Fairbury Rural Fire Issues Burn Ban

By Gordon HopkinsThe 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 for Friday.Local fire departments have been kept running this week after a series of fires. Jefferson and Saline County Emergency Management issued a series of alerts throughout this week, warning of high to very high fire danger. On Sunday, April 2, 2023, Fairbury Rural Fire was paged out to a reported grass fire in the area of 17th Street and Mendenhall Avenue in the City of Fairbury.According to Assistance Fire Chief Judd Stewart, the incident commander, firefighters arrived to find a brush/grass fire that was approximately three acres in size. Due to this being what Stewart described as a wildland/urban interface fire, mutual aid was requested from Jansen for an additional grass rig. The fire was moving slowly across a grass meadow and also burning into a thick area of cedar trees and pine trees. An initial attack was made to stop the progress of the fire towards the inhabited area of Fairbury. Second crews made an attack with hand tools, where vehicle access was restricted.There was a small wooden structure that was involved in the fire. The fire was contained in approximately 30 minutes, with crews remaining on scene for about an hour extinguishing hotspots, removing hazard limbs from trees that had burned from this fire.The investigation found that an animal had contacted a high voltage line and caused the top of a cedar tree to ignite. Falling debris ignited the ground below the tree and the fire spread towards the city of Fairbury. Fortunately, the fire did not spread beyond the initial three acres once fire crews arrived on scene. There were 12 firefighters on scene to contain and extinguish the fire. There were no injuries to firefighters or members of the public.This was only one fire this week. Among others: Monday evening, April 3, Steele City-Endicott Rural Fire District # 7 battles a blaze in Endicott, with Fairbury Rural Fire providing mutual aid.On Tuesday, April 4, at approximately 3:30 p.m., Jansen Rural Fire was called to the scene of a grass fire at Haven Road and 572nd Avenue. Fairbury Rural Fire was called for mutual aid.That same day and same time, a burn permit was reported out of control at 571st Avenue & 718th Road. Jansen Rural Fire was called to that scene as well and had to return the next day to extinguish a “flare up.”Also on Wednesday, April 5, at 3:30 p.m., Alexandria Rural Fire was called to a fire northeast of Alexandria, with Jansen Rural Fire providing mutual aid.Stewart told FJN, “This is a good reminder that our community is not immune to wildfires within the city limits. It’s a good idea for property owners to create a defensible space around your home that will make it easier to prevent a fire and easier to fight a fire if one was to be a threat. For more information on how to create a firewise home, go to www.firewise.org. This not only pertains to homes within the city of Fairbury, but also to homes that are built outside the city in rural areas.”

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