Wildfire in Kentucky

Events

48

Deaths

2

Injuries

21

Damage

$25,000

• Wildfire and High Wind in Kentucky, September 14, 200839 injured · $182 million · 68 kt wind · 23 eventsFrequent wind gusts from 60 to nearly 80 mph caused widespread damage in western Kentucky. The low pressure center that was the remnant of Hurricane Ike raced northeast at 40 to 50 mph across Missouri and Illinois. The center passed between Carbondale and St.
• Wildfire in Kentucky, November 16, 20161 death · 20 injured · 1 eventSevere drought led to a prolonged wildfire in the Red River Gorge near Tunnel Ridge Road, north of Mountain Parkway. On the morning of November 16th, near-zero visibilities developed on Mountain Parkway just east of the Slade exit as smoke became extremely dense at ground level.
• Wildfire in Kentucky, October 29, 20161 death · 1 eventAbnormally dry conditions throughout the fall season led to an increase in brushfires by the end of October. One of these fires in Bell County, near Beverly, became large enough for volunteer fire departments to begin battling.
• Wildfire in Kentucky, February 19 to 28, 200422 eventsA dry weather pattern during the mid and latter part of the month set the stage for grass and brush fires. At Paducah, only .11 inch of rain fell from the 7th through the end of the month.
• Wildfire in Kentucky, June 28, 20121 injured · 2 eventsThe prolonged drought and hot, dry weather contributed to a large wildfire in Christian County. Almost 100 acres was involved in the fire that jumped the Pennyrile Parkway near Crofton.
• Wildfire in Kentucky, November 12 to 13, 2010$15,000 · 1 eventA large brush fire consumed 234 acres in the Lyon County portion of the Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area. The fire was just off the east side of Kentucky Highway 453, known as The Trace. Conditions were ripe for such a fire due to the summer and fall drought.
• Wildfire in Kentucky, November 3 to 28, 20166 eventsCountless wildfires occurred throughout November across Harlan, Letcher, Knott, Bell, Breathitt, and Perry Counties in southeast Kentucky. The greatest number of fires and associated impacts were in Harlan County.
• Wildfire in Kentucky, February 25, 19961 eventDry, warm, and windy conditions resulted in a rash of brush and grass fires. A rapidly moving grass fire in Lone Oak, near Paducah, changed direction and swept across a fire truck. Two firefighters received minor facial burns and smoke inhalation. The truck was heavily damaged.
• Wildfire in Kentucky, March 8, 20001 eventA period of windy, dry, and mild weather resulted in high fire danger during the normal spring fire season, prior to the green-up of forest fuels. A fire burned about 50 acres of woods near Lake Barkley in the vicinity of Kuttawa.
• Wildfire in Kentucky, March 28, 20041 eventA stretch of dry weather during the latter half of March, combined with very low relative humidity and gusty winds, resulted in high fire danger. No measurable rainfall occurred from the 21st to the 27th in some parts of western Kentucky.
• Wildfire in Kentucky, November 12, 20051 eventUnusually dry and windy conditions contributed to the rapid spread of a fire in the Clark's River National Wildlife Refuge, a few miles southeast of Benton. The fire consumed 125 acres.
• Wildfire in Kentucky, January 8, 20061 eventWindy and dry conditions fanned the flames of a 300-acre grass and brush fire in western McCracken County, near Grahamville. The fire began near Kentucky Highway 358 in the West Kentucky Wildlife Management Area and spread quickly north-northeast toward the Ohio River.
• Wildfire in Kentucky, April 13 to 15, 20061 eventA large wildfire on the Land-Between-The-Lakes National Recreation Area burned 1871 acres. The fire started near the Tennessee state line, about ten miles south of Golden Pond, which is along U.S. Highway 68. No injuries or structural damage were reported.
• Wildfire in Kentucky, July 31, 20061 eventA wildfire burned 114 acres between Madisonville and Richland off State Route 70.
• Wildfire in Kentucky, March 19, 20101 eventLow humidity, strong winds, and dry conditions were blamed for a large field fire near the community of Hampton in Livingston County. The fire burned about 150 acres before dozers contained it.
• Wildfire in Kentucky, August 31, 2010$10,000 · 1 eventA wildfire just off U.S. Highway 62 in the eastern part of the county burned 265 acres. Moderate drought conditions and a dry southwest breeze created favorable conditions for wildfires.
• Wildfire in Kentucky, August 11, 20121 eventA large brush fire scorched about 250 acres in the Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area. The fire occurred on the northern end of the recreation area, sending heavy smoke across the community of Grand Rivers.
• Wildfire in Kentucky, November 3, 20161 eventAbnormally dry conditions led to several wildfires throughout Pike County on November 3rd. Shelby Valley High School, Valley Elementary School, and Dorton Elementary School were all forced to close for two days as smoke became thick and thus made breathing difficult.
• Wildfire in Kentucky, September 30, 20191 eventA wildfire at Sky Bridge in the Red River Gorge forced the closure of the area as record warmth and dryness primed fuels for burning. The initial source of ignition was an abandoned campfire that was not extinguished fully.
• Wildfire in Kentucky, September 16, 20191 eventAs hot and dry September conditions continued into the middle of the month, one notable wildfire occurred in Perry County in mid September near Sassafras and Vicco. The fire got close to a home as it spread into kudzu near the home.
• Wildfire in Kentucky, October 1 to 6, 20191 eventA wildfire at Sky Bridge in the Red River Gorge, which began on September 30th, continued to burn until October 6th. The main impact from this fire was the closure of the area into the first week of October.

Wildfire everywhereEvery kind of event in Kentucky

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.