Wildfire burns approximately 400 acres near Hardin and Spring Creek
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By BETH ZUMWALT
A wildfire burned approximately 400 acres Tuesday, Feb. 27 in the late afternoon. The fire was near the boundaries of Spring Creek and Hardin Townships, south of Time.
Spring Creek Fire Chief Josh Martin said his department usually responds to one huge wildfire in the spring and another in the fall.
“This one took 50 firefighters and lots of equipment from five different departments,” Martin said.
Martin would not disclose what ignited the fire although he said he did have an idea.
“It was the dry, windy conditions to cause it to spread like it did,” Martin said. “We couldn’t get our pumpers up where we needed them, so we were using side-by-sides to haul water.”
Martin said those manning the side-by-sides said from the time they left the fire, went and got water and returned to the scene, the fire had spread at least another 100 feet.
Martin said it was not the size of the fire that caused the problems.
“It was the wind, dry conditions, lack of humidity and the distance we had to go to get water to put on it,” Martin said.
According to Martin, the fire affected three land owners and one landowner had three structures that were endangered.
“I’m not opposed to burning,” Martin said. “Our department will even come out and burn off a field for a landowner in our district. Burning has good affects, it controls the ticks and a lot of other benefits.”
Martin reminded residents to avoid burning while dry and windy conditions persisted.
“Conditions continue to be dry and windy,” Martin said. We are still under red flag conditions, so people should not burn.”
Red flag conditions refer to weather conditions that increase the risk of fire danger.
Red flag warnings are issued when forecasts indicate that a combination of high temperatures, very low humidity and strong winds in a given location could create an environment that is conducive to dangerous fires.
A Red Flag Warning means warm temperatures, very low humidities, and stronger winds are expected to combine to produce an increased risk of fire danger. Red flag criteria include relative humidity of 15% or less combined with sustained surface winds, or frequent gusts, of 25 mph or greater.
