Multiple Fires Break Out Near HWY 70/187 Junction

Firefighters work to control a HWY 187 blaze from spreading further into the woods.

Darren Doyle, story and photos
Four fire departments responded to multiple grass and brush fires today near the KY HWY 70/187 area around 11:30am.

Edmonson County Emergency Management Director Pat Prunty said the first call came in with a report of a single fire on HWY 187, but several other calls followed with reports of multiple fires along the same road, with others just off the road on HWY 70 near Bear Creek Fire Department and Cub Creek Cemetery.

A grass fire begins to spread into a soybean field as firefighters work at the scene.

Smoke rises from a burned right-of-way on HWY 187.

Prunty said it's possible someone could have started all of the fires, but discussed another possibility.

"It's all just speculation, but I've seen something like this before," he said. "I've seen where a large tractor-trailer had a rear brake to lock, causing it to catch fire. The driver didn't immediately see it and burning debris from the tire was scattered along the roadway. That's a real possibility here, especially with the dry conditions."

Responding to the scenes were the Bear Creek, Brownsville, Kyrock, and Lincoln Fire Departments.

"Thanks to quick response from our fire departments, the fires were extinguished quickly and property was saved," Prunty added.

​There were no injuries reported in the incidents.