With National Fire Safety Week running from October 3 through October 9, Princeton’s Fire Chief Brent Francis said one of the biggest things to watch for in the fall is local grass fires — which peak during this time of year.
One would think the first frost of each fall would bring the moisture needed for safer conditions in the region, when actually, Francis said it can be one of the more dangerous times for grass-fire season.
Francis added the timing of the frost also makes a considerable difference. If it comes early when there hasn’t been as much rain in the forecast, the ground is harder and drier for a longer period of time — extending the grass-fire season further into the year.
If it arrives later, following some unseasonably warm temperatures and extended rain in the forecast, the ground is naturally wetter and less prone for easy flames.
Interestingly enough, Francis said the fall and its frosts do make it easier for him, and local crews, to navigate woodlands and grasslands in Caldwell County — because the land is typically drier, which allows for heavier fire trucks and rescue vehicles to off-road.
Francis noted that there is one little way he can tell if the ground is in really good shape.
According to Francis, the U.S. Department of Forestry recommends no burning during daytime hours from October 1 through December 15, and instead asks families and businesses to burn brush piles and natural vegetation through the night hours between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. — or basically dusk to dawn in the winter months of west Kentucky.
If you are planning to burn, Francis added it’s a great idea to call the local dispatch’s non-emergency line at (270) 365-7860 and notify what and when you’re planning to burn.
