Area Fire Crews Battle Two Thursday Afternoon Field Fires
Rural Clarinda, Iowa — Firefighters from multiple southwest Iowa departments responded to two separate field fires Thursday afternoon, with the second call coming in while crews were still working the first blaze.
According to information provided by fire officials, the first fire was reported at about 3:56 p.m. in the 1300 block of Lumber Avenue in rural Clarinda. When firefighters arrived, they found two separate brush piles on fire, with the flames extending into a nearby grass area and a harvested cornfield. Crews were able to quickly knock down the fire and bring it under control. Two separate farmers also assisted with tractors and disks to help limit the fire’s spread. Responding agencies for that incident included Essex Fire, Clarinda Fire, Red Oak Fire, Stanton Fire, Montgomery Emergency Management, Page Communications and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Communications.
While crews were still in the area from that mutual aid response, a second field fire was reported at 4:33 p.m. near 270th Avenue and O Avenue in Montgomery County. Fire officials said crews arrived to find several acres of CRP ground burning, with a large wall of fire moving quickly, crossing a rural road and advancing north into harvested corn ground and additional pasture ground. One residence east of the fire was advised that evacuation could become imminent if firefighters were unable to stop the fire’s spread.
Officials said crews were ultimately able to contain and stop the fire, but not before about 60 acres burned. No injuries were reported, and fireground operations were terminated at 6:24 p.m. Fire officials also credited several farmers who responded with agricultural equipment to help stop the progression of the fire. Agencies listed as assisting on the second fire included Red Oak Fire, Stanton Fire, Villisca Fire, Grant Fire, Clarinda Fire, Essex Fire, Montgomery County Emergency Management, MCSO Deputies, MCSO Communications and Page County Communications.
The two incidents highlight the rapid pace of Thursday afternoon’s fire activity in southwest Iowa, as mutual aid departments moved from one rural fire scene to another in an effort to keep both blazes from spreading farther.
