Daniel Boone National Forest lifts fire restrictions

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service has lifted the temporary restriction on open burning on the Daniel Boone National Forest. Backcountry campfires are once again permitted.

Widespread rainfall over the past several days has reduced overall fire danger in eastern Kentucky. Dry grasses and bare trees left from winter have "greened up" and been replaced by moisture-rich new growth that is less likely to serve as fuel for a wildfire. 

Despite improving conditions, much of Kentucky remains in a moderate drought. It’s important to exercise extreme caution when burning outdoors and ensure that all fires are properly monitored and extinguished before leaving them unattended.

Additional campfire safety reminders:

• Make sure your campfire is a safe distance from your tent or anything that can ignite unexpectedly.
• Use rocks to create a fire ring in the center of a large, cleared area.
• Use the Drown-Stir-Drown-Feel method to put your campfire out completely.

About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.