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HARDIN COUNTY, Ky. --
One fire chief called it the largest fire he’s ever seen in Hardin County.
Thursday’s fire near Sonora, Ky., burned more than 1,000 acres. On Friday, farmers started picking up the pieces and calculating the loss.
"We maxed our total resources available in this area in 15 or 20 minutes. We were already taxed," Sonora Fire Chief Frank Donehoo said. "We called for additional resources, but some of them had to come from as far as 20 miles away."
Farmer Cleston Hornback lost between 40 and 50 acres of his soybean crop.
"After working all spring, it’s tough, but you look back and realize it could have been me," Hornback said.
Nine families were evacuated from their homes. They have all since been allowed to return.
No one was injured and no homes were lost.
Donehoo said it’s a result of a team effort between eight fire departments and a host of farmers using their own equipment.
"I’ll never be able to personally thank them, but I would like to tell them on camera we really appreciate it," Donehoo said.
While a fire cause has yet to be determined in the Hardin County fire, the lack of substantial rainfall this season is catching some early blame.
"It's been extremely busy. Last month for our Fire Department, we responded to a total of 34 calls that month, which is the most we've ever made in one month in the history of Sonora Fire Department," said Donehoo.
There were also major fires in Bullitt County and Fort Knox.
Fire officials said the Bullitt County blaze started near the Knob Creek Gun Range on Thursday afternoon and spread slowly.
Fire crews from Bullitt County, Zoneton and southern Jefferson County helped fight it.
The fire at Fort Knox continued to burn Friday afternoon. Smoke could be seen and smelled for miles.
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