Fourth of July celebrations will be an anxious affair this year, as Floyd County and several surrounding counties are placed under a burn ban.

According to the Division of Forestry, Floyd County has been placed under a burn ban effective immediately.

In a release provided to The Floyd County Times by Judge-Executive R.D. “Doc” Marshall on Thursday, Marshall said, ” I urge all citizens to use extreme care regarding the use of fireworks on the upcoming 4th of July holiday.”

An executive order issued by the judge the same day states, “All outdoor burning in Floyd County, Kentucky, is prohibited under the authority of KRS 149.401.”

Joining Floyd County on the burn ban list, are Johnson, Pike, Lawrence and Breathitt counties. Noticeably absent from the list was Magoffin County, which following the tornado outbreak in March, has a vast number of dead and dying trees littering its hillsides.

According to the Division of Forestry, so far this year over 600 fires have started in Kentucky, burning over 13,000 acres.