MULTIPLE GRASS FIRES IN WASHINGTON COUNTY TUESDAY

  

Multiple grass fire were reported Tuesday in Washington County.

At 2:00 yesterday afternoon a grass fire was reported in the 2100 block of Boehnemann Road, south of Burton.  Volunteers from the Burton, Berlin, and Latium Fire Departments fought the fire until 10:00 PM Tuesday night.  The fire destroyed 70 round bales of hay.  Nearby structures were also threatened by the fire.

At 3:30 Tuesday afternoon, the Chappell Hill Volunteer Fire Department responded to a grass fire in the 6800 block of Gibb Creek Road, south of Chappell Hill.  Firemen fought the fire for over an hour.  1 ½ acres were reported burned in the fire.

Firemen report that the recent hard freeze has killed all of the grass and vegetation, and the low humidity and strong winds have led to the large number of grass fires.  Complicating matters, recent rains have made pastures too soft for the larger fire trucks to cross, leading to stuck vehicles, and having to fight the fires with ATVs and on foot.