Banned in Boone — 06/29/07

June 28, 2007 01:59 pm

— There won’t be any fireworks lighting that skies on this Independence Day in the Daniel Boone National Forest — or at least not legally. Because a prolonged drought has turned Kentucky’s only national forest into a tinderbox, the U.S. Forest Service has banned fireworks in the Daniel Boone for 120 days. Anyone caught possessing or lighting fireworks will be fined $75.
The fire hazard created by fireworks became all too evident to Grayson residents on June 21 when a blaze ignited by children playing with fireworks destroyed a playground at a park on county-owned land between East Carter Middle School and the Carter County Detention Center in Grayson.
Because the protective mulch spread on the ground between the playground equipment was extremely dry, it enabled the fire to quickly spread to engulf the entire playground and destroy about $83,000 worth of playground equipment.
The fire certainly was a step backwards for the 30-acre park, which previously had received a $75,000 grant from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund and funds from the Carter County Bash, the $100-a-ticket raffle that is not being held this summer. Plans eventually call for the park to include eight soccer fields, picnic areas with shelterhouses and other playing fields. While the fire certainly has delayed the full development of the park, our hope is that residents of Grayson and Carter County will respond to the fire by giving generously to the park project. With no Bash this summer, there is no ready source of funds to help the park.
While Grayson, Ashland and communities along the Ohio River are not part of the Daniel Boone National Forest, the same conditions that led to a ban of fireworks in the forest exist here. Those using fireworks need to be particularly aware of the danger of fire this holiday. Conditions are so dry that a small fire started by fireworks — or cigarettes carelessly tossed from the windows of vehicles, or campfires not completely doused, or trash fires left unattended, or any number of other potential sources of fire — can quickly burn out of control.
Whether the ban on fireworks extends beyond the national forest will be up to local authorities.
“If they’re bound and determined to do it, they need to take precautions,” Fire Marshal Rodney Raby said of people setting off fireworks. “We want them to celebrate their independence and celebrate the occasion, but not burn down their houses or damage anyone else’s property in the meantime.”
Despite some rainfall in recent days, conditions remain extremely dry. That makes conditions right for a devastating fire if precautions are not taken.