By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
SALINE COUNTY —Rural firefighters responded to two controlled burns that got out of control within a matter of minutes of each other Thursday afternoon in Saline County.
Just before 4p.m., Sheriff's deputies and personnel from Rural Fire District No. 2 were sent to the 400 block of E. Water Well Road after a control burn reignited, according to Saline County Undersheriff Brent Melander.
A 53-year-old Saline County man who had a burn permit had burned a pile of brush and thought he had put everything out afterward.
After the man left the property, the fire rekindled, setting some nearby grass on fire, Melander said. The fire spread to two wood piles, destroying them. The reignited fire was reported by neighbors.
Melander said that although the fire came close, no buildings were damaged. There was no damage estimate provided for the fire.
At 3:58 p.m. Thursday, a 45-year-old man who was conducting a controlled burn on some grass in the 9500 block of Forsse Road south of Falun called for help after the wind shifted, blowing embers onto a nearby wooden barn. Although the man had a water hose on hand, the water stream did not reach the top of the barn, Melander said.
Personnel from Rural Fire District No. 6 responded to the blaze and requested assistance from Rural Fire District No. 2 and the Marquette Fire Department. By the time they arrived, the fire had spread to a stubble field. The fire was extinguished, but not before the barn was destroyed and 100 yards of stubble had burned, Melander said. Additionally, a nearby Ford F150 had some fire damage.
Loss of the barn, which had some miscellaneous tools inside, was estimated at $15,000.