Grass fires stopped


Thursday, November 18, 2010
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Grass fires stopped

By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer

A string of grass fires stretching three or more miles along the north side of Highway 178 east of Red Banks was likely caused by a vehicle sparking, according to Red Banks fire chief Rick Haley.

Fifteen to 20 firefighters from the Red Banks and Holly Springs fire departments attacked the burning grass Thursday of last week. Forestry Service employees were called in with a Caterpillar to plow fire breaks.

The fires were reported around 3:30 p.m. and were under control around 6:30 p.m., said Holly Springs fire chief Ken Holbrook, who also assisted putting out the fires.

“Some people told that a car came by with a flat and running on a rim and it was causing sparks,” he said. “That would meet the senario.”

From about 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. eight fires were burning at the same time, and individual fires ranged in size from a half an acre to two acres, Holbrook said.

Firefighters attacked the fires threatening structures first and while they did, the other fires grew larger, he said.

“That gave us a larger fire once we got around to them,” he said. “There were no loss of structures, livestock or pets. Local residents were trying to put out fires with water hoses and one guy used a Bobcat loader trying to stop fire on his property.

“We do want to thank all the residents who assisted. It helped to protect their homes.”

The fires stretched from Mahon Station Road to Shipp Lane.

A burn ban set by the Marshall County Board of Supervisors expired at the end of October, and the statewide burn ban set by Gov. Haley Barbour was lifted November 3, said Hugh Hollowell, emergency management coordinator for the county.

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