Firefighters in the Ozarks are preparing for high fire threats this week

BATTLEFIELD, Monday (KY3) – With Monday and Tuesday being KY3 First Alert weather days, firefighters are getting ready to deal with fire threats again.

That’s what KY3 meteorologists say wind gusts expected to range between 25 and 45 mph; these gusts will combine with the dry conditions still plaguing the Ozarks to lead to a high fire danger for Monday and Tuesday.

“This is a very taxing, very strenuous job. When we have these types of fires. It’s been quite dry the last few months, especially the last 30 to 45 days,” said Captain Tim Childs of Battlefield Fire.

With low humidity and strong winds possible over the next two days, fire officials say this increases the chance of a fire. Since the beginning of the month, Battlefield Fire has responded to half a dozen wildfires.

One of the fires recently occurred in Wilson’s Creek. Just extinguishing the fire took more than two hours.

Childs said: “Unfortunately, because the grass fires can spread over such a distance, they are an additional burden because we have to travel further to fight those fires. We often do it without water. We do it by hand, rake or use a backpack blower to get ahead.”

Compared to this time last year, firefighters say they have fought just one wildfire. They warn people not to get burned, saying it only takes a small spark.

“People cooking in their backyard using an uncovered source that could create a spark that happens to end up in their neighbor’s backyard, or happens to end up in their neighbor’s gutter system that has leaf litter in it, highly flammable at this time of year . said Captain Childs.

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