Dry conditions have caused Mammoth Cave National Park to ban campfires temporarily in backcountry areas of the park, and smoking on all park trails.

The only campfires allowed at the park will be in the frontcountry area in metal rings constructed by the National Park Service, said Park Superintendent Patrick Reed.

The rings can be found at the Mammoth Cave Campground, Houchins Ferry Campground, Maple Springs Group Campground, Dennison Ferry Day Use Area and the picnic area near the visitor center. Even fires within the fire rings must be low intensity, he said. The fires must also be attended at all times.

“Like the state and other land management agencies, we must issue some restrictions for the safety of our visitors and park resources,” Reed said. “Our park weather stations show rainfall is about 15 inches below average for this time of year, making fire danger extremely high.”

The park is allowing the use of gas or propane lanterns and stoves.

Violations of the temporary ban may be punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 for a person and $10,000 for a group or organization, or imprisonment for up to six months, or both.

At Barren River Lake State Resort Park, no open fires are allowed anywhere, said David Dahle, park ranger for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“Any fire has to be contained to charcoal or gas,” he said.

The fire pits in the camping area can be used for charcoal fires, Dahle said. Gas or propane lanterns or stoves are also allowed.

The statewide ban also focuses completely on open burning, said Mike Haney, chief of general inspection for the Kentucky Fire Marshal’s Office.

The ban does not cover any fire that is fully contained, such as a grill, he said.

It means that open fires such as trash burning and camp fires are not allowed anywhere in Kentucky because of dry conditions statewide.

“It’s not unusual to have a burn ban this time of year,” Haney said. “It seems like every October and November, we run into bans because of dry conditions.”

People who want to have some sort of open fire can contact the Kentucky Division of Forestry. The division could issue a permit for burning if proper safety precautions and controls are taken, he said.

“It’s up to local law enforcement to enforce the burn ban,” Haney said.

The statewide ban was issued Oct. 4. Most counties had already had local bans for several months.

— For more information, contact the Division of Forestry at (502) 564-4496.