(BENTON, Ky.) – Marshall County Judge/Executive Kevin Spraggs has issued an executive order implementing a countywide fire ban, effective September 8, 2025, in response to severe drought conditions threatening public safety and natural resources.
The comprehensive ban prohibits all outdoor burning within Marshall County limits, citing concerns over rapidly spreading fires that could quickly overwhelm local firefighting capabilities.
“Marshall County is currently experiencing drought conditions which may lead to extraordinary fire hazards,” Spraggs stated in the executive order. “Wood and brush fires quickly exhaust the firefighting resources of the county, and weather forecasts indicate a prolonged dry period with no expected significant precipitation.”
Ban Details and Enforcement
The executive order specifically prohibits all burning within the county and requires local law enforcement personnel to enforce the restrictions under Kentucky Revised Statute 149.180.
Violations of the fire ban will result in penalties as outlined in KRS 149.190, with violators subject to prosecution under state law.
“These conditions endanger the public health and safety and threaten the natural resources of the Commonwealth,” the order states, emphasizing the serious nature of the current fire risk.
Duration and Public Safety
The fire ban will remain in effect until further notice, with county officials monitoring weather conditions and fire risk assessments to determine when restrictions can be safely lifted.
Marshall County emergency response agencies have been notified of the order, and a copy has been distributed to local media outlets to ensure widespread public awareness of the new restrictions.
Residents are urged to exercise extreme caution with any potential fire sources during this period of heightened risk and to report any unauthorized burning or fire hazards to local authorities immediately.