Prairie fires burn 900 acres
Six volunteer departments battle weekend blazes that ignited in same area
Staff writer
Two grass fires that occurred this past weekend had many county fire departments scrambling to battle the blazes.
The fires were less than two miles, but only one day, apart.
Marion Fire Department was called at 3:15 p.m. Saturday to a fire on the south side of 260th Rd., one mile east of US-56/77.
Lincolnville, Hillsboro, Lost Springs, and Tampa fire departments assisted in putting out the fire, which consumed about 300 acres.
“We made sure the area was cold before we left in case the wind would shift overnight,” Marion fire chief Preston Williams said.
Lincolnville Fire Department was called at 2:30 p.m. Sunday to a fire south of 240th Rd., one mile east of U.S.-56/77.
Marion, Hillsboro, Lost Springs, and Ramona fire departments teamed up to douse this fire, which burned 600 acres.
Lincolnville fire chief Lester Kaiser said the wind was blowing 15 to 20 miles-per-hour, which caused it to spread rapidly.
No structures were in danger, he said, but firefighters worked to protect oil wells in the area.
“We put ’em out and everybody came home. That’s the important part,” Kaiser said.