Fire Training Illustrates Dangers Of Drought Conditions

By Gordon HopkinsJefferson and Saline County Emergency Management issued a series of alerts throughout this week, warning of high to very high fire danger. The National Weather Service in Omaha/Valley has issued a Red Flag Warning for Friday, April 7, due to wind and low relative humidity. In response, the Fairbury Rural Fire issued a burn ban.On Sunday, April 9, a barn was scheduled to be burned as part of a training exercise for Fairbury Rural Fire. Fire Chief Ken Krause said, “We were using it as a fire behavior training and then we also did some work with drafting and ground monitors. It did burn a lot faster than we expected.”Krause blamed the dry air, which has been a factor in numerous fires recently, “Humidity was probably the factor that made it more challenging than we expected. Humidity was at 24 percent.”However, Krause also emphasized, “We were prepared. We did prepare the site with a tractor and disc prior to that, and we had equipment stationed out there. And we still had difficulties.We had three brush trucks and two UTVs and a tractor and disc in position before we lit it. And we had an engine with a ground monitor on the ground to catch embers. And we didn't get a chance to get that going. That thing took off so hard that the ground monitor didn't help us out. But we did everything to try to contain that and still had problems.”Despite all the preparation, there were spot fires that had to be extinguished. Fairbury called for mutual aid with Jansen and Daykin fire departments.As for the barn, itself, Krause said, “We had fire through the roof in less than a minute. It was on the ground in 21 minutes.”Prescribed burns are an important part of agricultural land management and this incident illustrates just how dangerous even controlled burns can be and the caution that should be taken. Krause said, “I do realize that it's part of the agriculture industry down here. It has to happen. But like I said, I thought we were prepared and with all that, we still managed to have some fire get away from us.”Monday, Fairbury Rural Fire issued a burn ban, “Due to volatility of the fuels in our area, effective immediately, no more burn permits will be given out or allowed to be activated. This is a total outdoor burn ban for FRFD’s fire district, effective until we get a significant moisture event. Violators will be issued a citation.”

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