Wildfire blazes on near Red River Gorge. Trails to remain closed through the weekend

The battle to contain the Natural Bridge wildfire near Kentucky’s Red River Gorge continued Friday as the National Weather Service called for scattered thunderstorms, gusty winds, small hail and even the chance of frost across Central Kentucky.

Nearly 100 firefighters from various state and federal agencies mobilized at the site near the Red River Gorge to knock down the fire after it kindled to life Monday. However, high winds Tuesday catapulted it over containment lines, and by Wednesday, the fire had scorched more than 100 acres.

Fire at Natural Bridge continues to burn Friday

Thursday, Gov. Andy Beshear said first responders were using multiple fire engines and even aerial resources to battle the blaze, though the fire continued to burn uncontained.

“Once the fire is contained, and the spread has stopped, fire crews will turn their efforts into controlling the fire by extinguishing smoldering material and reinforcing control lines,” Beshear said during a news conference Thursday.

As of Thursday evening, the Natural Bridge wildfire was 65% contained, with 125 acres burned, the U.S. Forest Service at Daniel Boone National Forest said in a Facebook post.

All trailheads at Natural Bridge State Resort Park, a popular spot near the gorge, will remain closed through the weekend, the park said Friday. That extends to its parking lots as well, except for the lodge lot.

In an earlier Facebook post, park officials added cottages and the Woodland Center are also closed until further notice. Access to Mill Creek Lake, which crews are drawing from to fight the fire, is closed to the public, as well.

Other than those facilities, Beshear said the park’s lodge and dining room remain open during regular business hours and campgrounds will be open for campers this weekend.

“I wanted to say how grateful we are for all of these firefighters working to preserve such a special place,” Beshear said Thursday.

National Weather Service calls for showers in Central Kentucky

Friday, the National Weather Service, forecasted a chance of showers and thunderstorms across Central Kentucky, with an even greater chance Friday night and early Saturday. New rainfall could reach up to an inch, the NWS predicts.

The best chances of thunderstorms will be in areas east of I-65, the agency said in a hazardous weather outlook. Strong, gusty winds and small hail will be possible for the strongest storms.

Starting Saturday night, patchy frost will be possible, but a more widespread frost is in the mix Sunday night. Monday, morning temperatures may drop below freezing in some areas across Central Kentucky.

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