County places new regulations on outdoor burning

Published 3:24 pm Friday, September 26, 2025

County government has placed new regulations on outdoor fires after a stretch of dry weather impacted Warren County and the region, which dried up yards, gardens and fields across southcentral Kentucky.

Two fire hazard seasons are now in place under the regulations. The first comes in the late winter and early spring months from Feb. 15 to April 30, and the second falls between Oct. 1 and Dec. 15.

An order issued Friday by Judge-Executive Doug Gorman put the regulations into effect and rescinded a full burn ban placed on the county Sept. 10.

“During fire hazard seasons, it shall be unlawful for any person to set fire to, or to procure another to set fire to, any flammable material capable of spreading fire that is located within 150 feet of woodland or brushland, except between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. local prevailing time,” the order reads.

The order states that burning may take place any time of day during the hazard seasons as long as it happens more than 150 feet away from combustibles.

All open burns happening in the county must comply with requirements from the Kentucky Division of Forestry, including permitting and notification.

Warren County Emergency Management, the Warren County Fire Department and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office will enforce the regulations.

A fire hazard season is currently in place on the state level starting Oct. 1.