coldfront
10-05-2008, 03:15 PM
Hundreds of Acres Burning at Red River Gorge
http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/30473894.html
Posted: 10:24 PM Oct 4, 2008
Last Updated: 10:24 PM Oct 4, 2008
Dozens of firefighters are battling a forest fire that's burning hundreds of acres in the Daniel Boone National Forest.
Its happening in the Chimney Top Rock area of Red River Gorge at the Powell-Wolfe County line.
When the fire was first reported late Friday afternoon, only about 5 acres were involved. But, because of the extremely rugged terrain and steep cliffs, crews were pulled off prior to darkness for safety reasons, and it is now a 300 acre fire.
"It's inside a geological area, we've got lots of high cliff lines. We've got leaf litter on the ground, and their objective is to hold this fire using the natural barriers of the river and the trails that are in there," said Evelyn Morgan, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Forestry Dept.
Morgan says once the flames burn to the control lines, the fire will cover 560 acres.
Only a section of one trail has had to be closed, but drivers on Highway 77 had trouble finding their way through all the smoke Saturday morning.
The extremely dry summer and fall definitely played a role in the fire but authorities are hesitant to say exactly what caused it.
"We think most likely it's a campfire that someone possibly forgot to put all the way out, but at this time we really don't know for sure," said Morgan.
There is currently no burning ban in the Daniel Boone National Forest. Campfires are permitted, but campers are urged to be extremely cautious. But, officials say that could soon change if the area doesn't get a significant amount of rain.
http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/30473894.html
Posted: 10:24 PM Oct 4, 2008
Last Updated: 10:24 PM Oct 4, 2008
Dozens of firefighters are battling a forest fire that's burning hundreds of acres in the Daniel Boone National Forest.
Its happening in the Chimney Top Rock area of Red River Gorge at the Powell-Wolfe County line.
When the fire was first reported late Friday afternoon, only about 5 acres were involved. But, because of the extremely rugged terrain and steep cliffs, crews were pulled off prior to darkness for safety reasons, and it is now a 300 acre fire.
"It's inside a geological area, we've got lots of high cliff lines. We've got leaf litter on the ground, and their objective is to hold this fire using the natural barriers of the river and the trails that are in there," said Evelyn Morgan, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Forestry Dept.
Morgan says once the flames burn to the control lines, the fire will cover 560 acres.
Only a section of one trail has had to be closed, but drivers on Highway 77 had trouble finding their way through all the smoke Saturday morning.
The extremely dry summer and fall definitely played a role in the fire but authorities are hesitant to say exactly what caused it.
"We think most likely it's a campfire that someone possibly forgot to put all the way out, but at this time we really don't know for sure," said Morgan.
There is currently no burning ban in the Daniel Boone National Forest. Campfires are permitted, but campers are urged to be extremely cautious. But, officials say that could soon change if the area doesn't get a significant amount of rain.