Several days without precipitation and a strong storm preceded by high winds helped spark an outbreak of wildland fires across Breathitt County over the weekend.
Numerous fires were reported in the county, sending fire department crews and forestry officials scrambling to contain or extinguish the blazes.
The largest of the fires was reported in the Canoe/Highway 3237 section of Breathitt County on the Middle Fork.
The fire, identified as the Canoe Road Incident by the Kentucky Division of Forestry, was reported on Saturday, March 21, at 4:07 p.m. The blaze was declared under control just after 10:00 p.m. Sunday. Officials reported that the Canoe fire consumed more than 80 acres of woodland.
Another large fire, the Hardshell-Caney Incident, burned throughout Sunday afternoon and into the early morning hours of Monday before it was declared contained. Reports indicate the Hardshell-Caney fire burned nearly forty acres.
Every Breathitt County fire district reported forest fires.
A front with rain and storms moved through the county during the morning hours of March 23, helping firefighters.
One official said that the rain would help, but several days of sustained precipitation are needed to ensure that the “situation calms down.”
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