County lifts burn ban

By MELANIE THOMAS
Glasgow Daily Times

GLASGOW July 03, 2007 01:54 pm

— After a number of decent rainfalls, the open burn ban was lifted late Monday morning for the county.
Barren County Judge-Executive Davie Greer said after talking with county fire chiefs, there has been a sufficient amount of rainfall to make it safer to burn waste.
“They are the ones who see their areas every day,” said Shannon White, Barren County solid waste coordinator.
The decision came in anticipation of the Barren River State Lake Resort Park’s annual fireworks Wednesday night.
Dry conditions remain a worry in Kentucky around the Fourth of July because of the potential for fires.
Many cities have asked revelers to attend a fireworks show rather than set them off because of the dry conditions.
However, the decision to lift the ban was strictly due to rainfall, Greer said. Cave City had a fireworks display Saturday night.
“We just want everybody to be particularly careful with fireworks,” Greer said.
Using good practices and having water handy would decrease the risk for a fire outbreak, she said.
The only part of Barren County still without a sufficient amount of rain is the northeastern part by Metcalfe County, Greer said.
“Fire chiefs are going to be keeping an eye on that,” Greer said.
Since June 18, Glasgow has experienced roughly 2.30 inches of rainfall.
“It seems like a lot since we’ve been so dry,” said Angela Lese, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “But we are still below normal for the year.”
The burn ban was put into effect on June 11 because of excessive dryness and fire hazard conditions.
Glasgow is about seven to 10 inches below normal for the year, Lese said.
Southcentral Kentucky is experiencing a severe drought.
“It could drop to moderate in some areas, but we are still in drought conditions,” Lese said.
Warren County also lifted its burn ban Friday.
With the ban lifted, citizens still have to be aware of what is legal to burn and what isn’t, Greer said.
Materials often burned that are illegal include animal bedding, construction debris, household garbage, wood materials, tires and oil, according to the Division of Air Quality.
Leaves, weeds, camp fires and animal carcasses are legal.
Burning illegal materials can result in a citation between $500 and $25,000.
For more information on what materials are legal to burn, contact the Barren County Fiscal Court office at 651-3338 or call the Division of Air Quality at (888) BURN-LAW.

FIREWORKS SAFETY
- Fireworks should always be handled by adults
- Don’t use alcohol with fireworks.
- Use on a hard surface.
- Have water close by