The fire northeast of Kiowa that consumed 1,100 acres July 20
was one of several fires that took place during record-setting high
temperatures. Elbert County emergency personnel were busy last week
with fires throughout the county.
Two juveniles playing with fireworks started a fire July 22 in
the Forest Ridge subdivision south of Kiowa. The call came in just
before noon and was reported as a grass fire in a forested area,
said Kiowa Fire Protection District Chief Brad Wade.
Units from Kiowa, Elizabeth and Elbert were dispatched to the
scene, where the fire was contained within minutes.
“The significant resources were called based on the extreme dry
conditions and the winds that prevailed at the time we were
dispatched,” Wade said. “The fire had extended into the trees in
the area and winds were moderate at the time. The fire was held to
approximately half an acre and there were no homes immediately
threatened.”
Both juveniles were issued summonses, said Elbert County Sheriff
William Frangis.
A fire began near the Running Brook Estates subdivision after a
truck driver failed to retract a conveyor belt on his truck July
19. The boom of the roofing truck was fully extended when it hit an
overhead power line around noon that day and left 500 homes without
power.
Sparks from the contact with the power line started a grass
fire, which consumed less than 1/8 acre at the corner of County
Road 13 and Running Brook Road.
“He decided not to put his boom down and drove right into a
double circuit line with it and knocked out one of the circuits,”
said Ed Jenks, Operations Manager with IREA. “The main circuit
coming out of the substation was out and power was back in less
than two hours.”
Dana Kienker, 23, of Aurora, was charged with careless driving
in that incident.
On July 18 a brush fire started in the grass behind a shop on
County Road 17 south of Elizabeth. The fire was believed to have
started among some scrap wood and other construction material, said
Gaye Kriz with the Elizabeth Fire Protection District.
Seven units responded with 10 personnel on scene. One metal
building was threatened and the area was cleared by 2 p.m. The
cause and origin of the fire is undetermined at this
time.
Unlike the large fire that was caused by dry lightning, two of
the three other fires were caused by human error. Local fire
departments caution residents to be aware of fire dangers in the
hot, dry and windy conditions this summer.
“Open burning requires a permit,” Kriz said. “The potential for
brush fires from illegal burns and firecrackers is high during a
week of 100 degree temperatures. No one thinks of how dry it is,
the winds, located in the trees. Be extremely cautious. Before you
burn call your local fire district or department.”
Contact Rhonda Moore at rmoore@ccnewspapers.net.