GOLDEN POND, Ky (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Tennesseans visiting Land Between the Lakes will need to take extra care when building camp fires. Lyon County, along with the Kentucky Division of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service, will join Livingston County in implementing a fire ban effective beginning 9 a.m. Sept. 25 for all areas within the associated counties and across Land Between the Lakes.
All associated law enforcement and fire departments support the fire restrictions and will enforce the ban.
Officials hope the fire ban will reduce likelihood of human caused wildfire while the area is in high fire danger because of drought.
“After discussing with the professionals in the Division of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service, I fully support a burn ban in Lyon County until we receive adequate rainfall,” said Wade White, Lyon Co. Judge Executive.
Fire officials determine wildfire potential by examining weather data and human activity in comparison with moisture content in a variety of fuels. Spring and early summer rains produced dense vegetation that is now dried and available to burn quickly.
“We are going into the time of year we all need to be a little more vigilant when it comes to fire,” said Scotty Mason, forest prevention officer with the U.S. Forest Service at Land Between the Lakes. “The fire danger level is going up, leaves are turning colors and the grass is dry. It will take multiple heavy rain events to bring the fire danger levels down.”
Specifics regarding fire restrictions can be found on Land Between the Lakes’ website.