Forest fires burn more than 5,000 acres

HAZARD, Ky. (AP) - Forestry officials say that more than 5,000 acres have burned in eastern Kentucky so far this year.

WYMT-TV (https://bit.ly/1iwvI3Q) reports state officials say 653 acres were burned over the weekend in 44 different fires. Firefighters are still fighting blazes in Perry and Bell counties.

Officials say fires are burning harder and faster this winter because it’s been so cold. They say the freeze pulled all the moisture out of the ground.

Many of the fires were caused when people burning brush allowed the blaze to escape.

“They thought because of the wetness we’ve had this winter, the fire wouldn’t escape, but the reality is the sun is hitting it now. We’ve got constant breeze, low humidity, and it drives fuels out and lets the fire escape,” Bell County Forest Ranger Lem Johnson said.

Some of the more than 200 blazes have been caused by arson.

Officials say it is illegal to burn between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Anyone with information about arson fires is asked to call the arson hotline at 1-800-27-ARSON.

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Information from: WYMT-TV, https://www.wkyt.com/wymtnews