Wednesday, September 06, 2000
State: Rain, programs should ease fires
The Associated Press
LEXINGTON — Consistent rains in eastern Kentucky and two new programs may lead to a quieter forest fire season in Kentucky this year. At least officials are hoping so.
Some parts of the region have received 8 inches more rain than normal in the past six months.
Last year, severe drought conditions led to the worst forest fires in Kentucky in more than a decade.
Set mostly by arsonists, last year's fires damaged more than 150,000 acres during the spring and fall fire seasons, and the fight cost the state $4.5 million.
“Last year was an extreme situation and one that, luckily, we don't face very often,” said Gwen Holt, spokeswoman for the state Division of Forestry.
This year's fall forest fire season starts Oct. 1.
“We've been fortunate this summer to get the weather we've had,” Holt said.
To complement the good weather, forestry officials this year are putting two new programs in place to help stop fires before they start.
In May, the state set up the Wildland Fire and Arson Prevention Task Force, which includes state and federal officials who will pool ideas and resources to go after arsonists.
Jim Funk, branch manager for forestry resources in the Kentucky Division of Forestry, said one of the group's goals is to recruit local law enforcement agencies to help catch arsonists.
When the fire season gets intense, most forestry officials are helping fight fires and are left with little or no time to look for arsonists, Mr. Funk said. But help from local law enforcement agencies could help track offenders and deter future firebugs.
Last year, 12 adults and one juvenile were arrested for starting forest fires, out of 27 investiga tions, said David Perkins, inspector general for the state's Natural Resources Cabinet.
The second new development this year is that Kentucky is creating its own fire-prevention team, modeled after successful programs in other states.
During the peak of last fall's fire season, a fire-prevention team, made up of out-of-state members, traveled to Hazard to try to ease the burden in that part of the state.
Fires in the Hazard district decreased substantially during the team's visit, and that drop can be partially attributed to the team's efforts, Mr. Funk said.
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