At the request of the Kentucky Division of Forestry Warren County Judge-Executive Mike Buchanon has issued an immediate ban on all outdoor open burning in Warren County.

“This is a decision we do not take lightly, and we are joining at least five other counties in the Barren River Area in issuing this ban until further notice,” Warren County Buchanon said in a news release.

Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Hart and Monroe counties and Mammoth Cave National Park recently put bans in place.

The Warren County ban extinguishes open burning in all areas of the county, according to the executive’s order, leaving only an exception for fireworks displays supervised by pyrotechnic professionals or those approved by the City of Bowling Green. Burning of leaves and trash is forbidden. People should use solid waste disposal services for proper disposal, Buchanon said.

Woodburn Fire Department Chief Bob Skipper said the ban is timely and may serve to reduce demands on local volunteer fire departments and the potential for local wildfires and property loss.

“The lack of rain and warm weather are creating dangerous conditions for outdoor burning,” Skipper said in the release. “If there is any wind at all, a small fire can spread rapidly We have been fortunate so far this fall, and a little restraint until conditions improve will help keep us all safer.”

The county burn ban order stipulates that the ban will be lifted only after sufficient rainfall, and levies penalties of $50 to $500 for violation of the ban, as defined in KRS 149.401 and the associated penalties outlined in KRS 149.090.