NEW LYME TOWNSHIP — A brush fire scorched nearly 100 acres of a corn field before it was doused by firefighters from nine departments Monday afternoon.
No injuries were reported and no property was damaged, although came perilously close to homes in the area, said Rome Township Fire Chief Ed Koziol.
People burning twigs and yard debris behind the New Lyme Baptist Church on Dodgeville Road inadvertently started the fire, Koziol said. Wind fanned the flames, which ripped into a 250-acre field nearby.
Assisting Rome at the scene were personnel and equipment from Orwell, Wayne, Dorset, Jefferson, Morgan, Hartsgrove, Andover and Montville in neighboring Geauga County, Koziol said. Among the departments, 18 pieces of equipment and up to 50 firefighters were at the scene, he said.
“We were successful in stopping (the fire),” Koziol said. “Everyone worked together real well.”
The fire began behind the church, continued west to Parks Road and headed south towards Windsor Road before it was stopped.
The initial call was received at 2:30 p.m., and the last truck left the scene nearly four hours later, Koziol said.
The fire occurred on land owned by Britton Farms, Koziol said. The owner used a tractor to create a break around the fire that helped slow the progress of the flames, he said.
Kathy Bates, a Dodgeville Road resident, said the fire was across the street from her house.
“Before I left for the store, I saw an old man picking up sticks and putting them on the brush pile behind the church, and I thought I hope he doesn’t light that in this wind,” Bates said.
Although Bates did not see the old man light the sticks, when she returned from shopping about 1 1/2 hours later, her road was lined with fire trucks and the whole field across the street behind the church was ablaze.
“People do not realize how dry those old corn stocks really are and how easy and fast they can burn,” Bates said. “I am so glad no one lost their house, including me.”
People reported seeing the fire as far away as Cherry Valley Township and Mesopotamia in Geauga County.
Conditions are extremely dry in the county and people need to use caution and common sense before starting fires, Koziol said
Local News
Related Photos
Discussion
Brush fire burns 100 acres
Many departments help battle stubborn New Lyme blaze
- Local News
-
-
Six ready to interview for Buckeye’s super job
The Buckeye Local Board of Education will conduct interviews with six superintendent hopefuls next week, said Board President Jacqueline Hillyer.
-
Shooting suspect to be tried as adult
A 17-year-old will be tried as an adult in the school shooting deaths of three students, a juvenile court judge ruled Thursday after hearing a sheriff’s deputy describe how the teen wore a T-shirt with the word “Killer” and admitted shooting people.
-
Ohio EPA takes AIM at site of hazardous wastes
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency staff members returned this week to the site of the now-bankrupt Ashtabula Iron and Metal on West 30th Street to take samples of the unknown liquids and analyze hazardous wastes, asbestos and other potential health and environmental concerns.
-
Commissioners look at selling nursing beds
Commissioners have retained the services of a law firm that specializes in the sale of excess nursing home beds as the board looks at ways to raise additional revenues.
-
Conneaut looks at demolition funds
The city is making preparations to secure its share of nearly $692,000 in demolition funds expected to be Ashtabula County’s portion of a multi-billion dollar settlement with national mortgage lenders.
-
Volunteers get more help than needed at rescue spot
Despite their good intentions, Edward and Mary proved more hindrance than help to the Conneaut KeyBank employees lending a helping hand Thursday to a farm animal rescue operation in Kingsville Township.
-
220 graduate at Lakeside
Thursday night was a time of pomp, circumstance and smiles as 220 seniors graduated from Lakeside High School.
-
Lost money?
There is no map, and “X” may not mark the spot, but hundreds of Ashtabula County residents may have unclaimed cash ready and waiting for them through the Ohio Department of Commerce.
-
Lane to be tried as adult in Chardon High shooting
A 17-year-old boy will be tried as an adult in the school shooting deaths of three students, a juvenile court judge ruled Thursday.
-
Happy Hearts School holds commencement for its Class of 2012
As commencement exercises go in Ashtabula County, the one at Happy Hearts School was small, with just five students.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Six ready to interview for Buckeye’s super job
