Two fires in the Basin over the weekend
On Sunday, Adams County Fire District 2 was called to a fire near Lind that quickly grew to around 200 acres. Wind combined with uncut wheat allowed for the flames to spread fast, according to ACFD 2 Chief Eric Labes.
COURTESY PHOTO/ACFD 2
Level Three “Go” evacuations were established Sunday after a 200-acre fire started near Lind. After a couple of hours, the fire was contained, and evacuations were lifted.
WILSON CREEK — Two small fires happened over the weekend, with one fire Saturday on Road O Northeast and Road 30 Northeast between Wilson Creek and Coulee City and another near Sunday near Lind.
According to Grant County Fire District 12 Chief Scott Mortimer, the Road O fire burned around three acres and began in the afternoon with crews on site until around 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
“No injuries or damages, only dryland pasture, a very small amount of wheat stubble,” Mortimer said.
Mortimer said the fire was caused by a loose piece of hay tarp that blew into Grant County Public Utility District lines and ignited.
“Pick up your hay tarps; they are a huge fire risk,” Mortimer said.
The next day, at around 11 a.m., Adams County Fire District 2 was called to the scene of a stubble and uncut wheat fire south of Lind. Level three “Go” evacuations were placed on two houses located north of Hatton Road.
The fire burned around 200 acres, according to ACFD 2 Chief Eric Labes.
“It was a bigger fire, decent-sized,” Labes said.
According to Labes, crews worked in the heavy smoke and extreme heat to halt the spread to protect homes and further acreage loss. By around 12:30 p.m., the fire was contained, and mop-up began. Evacuations were lifted shortly after. No structures were damaged, and nobody was injured.
“ACFD 2 maintained operational control and carefully assessed the situation before calling for mutual aid,” said a statement from the department. “Our priority remained clear: deploy the right resources, at the right time, in the right way.”
Labes said he was proud of his department for the quick response time and getting a containment on the fire as quickly as they could.
ACFD 2 received mutual aid from Adams County Fire District 7, Franklin County Fire District 7, Adams County Sheriff’s Office, East Adams EMS, Adams County Fire Protection 6, Franklin County Fire District 2 and area farmers.
“We appreciate when we call for mutual aid how fast our neighboring departments show up and are willing to help out,” Labes said.
Level Three “Go” evacuations were established Sunday after a 200-acre fire started near Lind. After a couple of hours, the fire was contained, and evacuations were lifted.