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Multiple departments respond to grass fire
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Nevada Fire Department responded to a report of a grass fire on Click Street south of Highland Avenue, across from David's Tire Recycling at 2:20 p.m. Wednesday.
Chief William Thornton from Nevada Fire Department said, "The owner was using a hot saw to cut metal and a piece of metal landed in the tall grass," causing the fire.
Thornton said more than two acres of the field owned by Gary Mahloch were on fire when the first Nevada Fire Department units arrived.
Nevada initially responded with a brush truck and tanker, and called for additional brush trucks from Compton Junction, Milo, and Deerfield fire departments. Nevada's Engine 212 was later called to the scene.
In total, 10 apparatus and 15 personnel responded to the fire, which took two hours to extinguish. There were no injuries or fatalities.
Thornton said, "With the unusually high temperatures and the lack of moisture during the winter months we are experiencing very dry and windy conditions. As seen with the large eight-alarm fire in Overland Park, Kan. on Monday that destroyed two large apartment buildings along with 15 or so nearby houses, the wind can pick up embers and blow them into other areas.
"The same with grass fires, the wind can and will fuel the fire and burn very quickly. Even to the point an individual may wait to call 911 because they feel or felt they could put it out, and the next thing you know it's a full fledged grass fire consuming numerous acres.
"We saw what even a grass fire can do, when it is out of control last month in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Colorado. Five fatalities, over one million acres burned, 1,500 head of cattle killed, not to mention homes, barns, fencing, crops, and vehicles destroyed all because of a grass fire."
Nevada residents are required by city ordinance to call the fire department and get permission to burn on a daily basis. If the wind is forecast to be higher than 10 miles-per-hour, outside burning will not be allowed. For permission to burn or for more information, call Nevada Fire Department at 417-448-5105.