Oct. 26, 2012 —
The U.S. Forest Service responded this week to a fire on Bramblewood Road off US 60, east of Morehead.
The fire was originally spotted Tuesday evening and crews were called out Wednesday to extinguish it.
Jerry Wheeless, USFS incident commander, said the fire affected between 15 and 20 acres of the forest.
Wheeless said the fire crews are using different tactics to fight the blaze.
“We’re going to increase the size of the fire due to the topography,” Wheeless said. “We just can go out there in a directed attack with water and put out the fire. We’ll have a bit of fire on the ground but it’s a necessity to stop this fire.”
At least 20 personnel are working the fire with more expected to arrive late Thursday. Additional USFS and National Park Service firefighters from Cumberland Gap were scheduled to join the fire line.
“If my plan works, we should have the fire contained late Thursday but we will have people in there Friday,” Wheeless said.
The Kentucky Department of Highways urges motorists to travel with caution because of the fire. Smoke could reduce visibility, especially in the evening.
“I suspect we’ll have more smoke move in tomorrow,” Wheeless said Thursday. “We’re expecting a smoky morning.”
“We really want people to be aware of the hazards that the smoke might produce on the highway,” Wheeless said.
Evelyn Morgan, USFS public information officer, said weather conditions Wednesday did not help keep the fire contained as winds spread it throughout the forest.
Highway crews and local law enforcement are monitoring the situation and will temporarily close the road or restrict traffic if necessary to protect the traveling public.
Motorists are urged to slow down, drive carefully near emergency crews and pay attention to all warning signs.
Morgan said the cause of the fire is likely human but that remains under investigation by the USFS and local law enforcement.
Morgan said 15 homes are in the area of the fire but the containment lines are holding and crews are monitoring the situation.
MacKenzie Bates can be reached at mbates@themoreheadnews.com or by telephone at 784-4116.
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