Firefighters take care of first grass fire of season in Clarendon
‘It’s now officially spring. It’s not spring until there’s a grass fire.’ – Byron firefighter
Photos by Tom Rivers
CLARENDON – Firefighters from several departments were dispatched about 2:30 p.m. today to a grass fire that became out of control for the property owner on Holley Byron Road, near the Glidden Road intersection.
The field was back from the road about a quarter mile.
Mud by a small creek made it impossible to get a pickup truck close to the scene.
Firefighters used brooms to stop the fire. The property owner said he went for a walk to the field to enjoy a long-awaited sunny day in the 50s. He lit a cigar and then the grass and field were on fire. He tried to stomp on the fire, but it was moving too quickly. He thanked the firefighters for hustling to get back and prevent the fire from spreading to a nearby wooded area.
Jon Salber, a Clarendon firefighter, looks for hot spots in the field.
Firefighters used this Argo all-terrain vehicle to get to the scene. They have Indian tanks on their backs with water.
Firefighters from Clarendon, Holley, Fancher-Hulberton-Murray and Byron responded to the scene. Barre and Elba were also called, but then that was cancelled, said Jon DeYoung, Clarendon fire chief.
“It’s now officially spring,” said a Byron firefighter. “It’s not spring until you have a grass fire.”
