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Officials warn against bonfires

Posted at 9:01 PM, Oct 04, 2019
and last updated 2019-10-05 05:44:38-04

POWELL COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — The temperature drop today has some thinking about a night around a bonfire, but fire officials are reminding you the conditions are still too dry for that.

In fact, the Powell County Search and Rescue Team says even a cigarette butt will put the forest at risk.

"We want them to have a good time, but we want them to also know, this is a bad time. It's great out here, it's beautiful, the wind's blowing, it feels good from the heat. But the wind's blowing, it's dry," Lisa Johnson, with the rescue team said.

The cigarette butts are the biggest concern for the team as they get ready for a busy weekend full of visitors to the Gorge. "In most places you camp at, they do have a map or an arrow that shows what the risk of fire is right now. If not, talk to someone in the Forest Division. But no matter what, show respect, no matter what time of the year it is," Johnson added.

And it's going to take several inches of rain before campers can safely light fires again.

Click here to see a list of Kentucky counties under burn bans.