Hardin County is the latest Kentucky county to enact a burn ban.
“This is due to the dry conditions, the lack of rain that we have experienced in Hardin County,” said Hardin County Emergency Management Director Joey Scott. “We are implementing the burn ban and we’ll carry on until we get some significant rain to help these dry conditions out.”
Hardin County Judge/ Executive Keith Taul issued the burn ban via executive order Monday.
“Counties around us are going to burn bans,” Scott said. “It’s all across the state of Kentucky right now. We’re entering into a really dry season, so we’re just being proactive and trying to get ahead of it.”
The ban prohibits all outdoor burning with the exception of campfires in an established campground. Violations of the burn ban are punishable as a Class A misdemeanor, which carries a penalty of up to a $500 fine, up to 365 days in jail, or both.
“Just be safe,” Scott said. “Just use good common sense. We’ve got to take care of our neighbors, not only our property but other people’s property that joins ours.”
Burn bans have also been issued in Breckinridge, Meade, and LaRue counties. The ban will remain in effect until drought conditions improve.