As an original fire in Estill County grows to several hundred acres in the Pitts, Betsy Ridge, and Ticky Fork area, now another fire is burning and spreading in a separate part of the county. Melissa Riddle with Estill County EMA says the second fire began in the area of Chamberlain Branch and is moving in the wood lines behind the numbered streets in Ravenna. According to Riddle, members of the Kentucky and US Forestry services are working to contain the fires. Local fire agencies, including neighboring counties firefighters who have responded to help are focused on property preservation and home protection in the path of the flames.
Dozers and air drops have been utilized to fight the wildfires, but the biggest help may be the winds subsiding more than expected and a 100% chance of rain for the area on Friday. County Judge Donnie Watson has declared a state of emergency Estill County. Miraculously, no structures have been impacted by the fires as of press time. Today the smoke and haze has been reported in Lexington in Fayette County.
**UPDATE** 3:30 pm Tuesday Nov 9, 2022.
EMA director Melissa Riddle says, as of right now, the Pitts fire is 100% contained. It burned 635 acres. You will continue to see smoke and fire within the containment area. This fire impacted areas in Pitts, Ticky Fork, and Betsy Ridge.
