(WKYT) – Dozens of employees from the Kentucky Division of Forestry recently spent time in the Pacific Northwest helping battle wildfires.
Division Director Brandon Howard said it is not uncommon for states to send each other personnel and resources during difficult times.
“Wildfire activity can get such that any state or any organization that manages wildfire can become overwhelming to their resources,” Howard said. “In 2023, we had several states pitch in and help us when we had a severe wildfire situation in the fall of that year. We’re states helping other states.”
Largest crew returned last week
The largest concentration was a hand crew of 25. They were in Washington state and returned home last Wednesday night.
“Anytime we send someone out, they can be deployed from anywhere from 14 to 21 days. But we try to rotate staff out as we can,” Howard said.
Division employees and equipment remain in Oregon, Idaho and Wyoming, as well as in Florida, Colorado and Texas.
Preparing for fall fire season at home
Howard, who also serves as the Kentucky State Forester, said fire situations can change rapidly, and the state works to ensure resources are back in time for an increase in fire activity in the Commonwealth.
“As we get closer to fall, we’ll see that the weather’s going to change and the moisture in the air will decrease, and then we’ll have more chance for wildfires to occur here at home. But you should be careful. We’ll have fire anytime, 12 months out of the year in Kentucky, because anything can happen,” Howard said.
According to the daily update from the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center, there are 45 fires in Washington and Oregon as of Sunday morning, with more than 35,000 acres burned.