Fire calls keep department busy

It was a busy week for the Imperial Volunteer Fire Department (IVFD). Trucks responded to two fires, involving fields and grass.
    The afternoon of Sept. 30 six trucks and 13 firemen responded to a fire about one mile east of the Enders Lake Golf Course on a trail road.             Fire Chief Doug Mitchell said about 30 acres of grass and trees were burned on Johnston land.
    Firemen had to cut down some trees, some of them dead, but stopped the fire from crossing a road and entering a cornfield and a pasture.
    “Everybody did a great job,” he noted, adding that a crew returned the next day because trees were still smoldering. The following day, Oct. 2, the department again returned as a precaution because winds were gusting.
    Mitchell said the cause of the fire was undetermined but that something hot from a passing train could have caused it, as the fire began 10-20 feet from the railroad tracks.
    The Wauneta Volunteer Fire Department also sent 12 volunteers and five trucks to the fire.
    Monday morning the IVFD responded to a fire call two miles into Dundy County but still within the IVFD district.
    Mitchell said a hot picker head on a combine started a fire on Lutz land, burning 80 acres of unpicked corn and 60 acres of grass.
    IVFD sent 6 trucks and 14 volunteers to the fire, while Wauneta VFD sent two trucks and 4 firefighters, and Benkelman VFD sent six trucks and 15 volunteers.
    Mitchell gave credit to area farmers and ranchers, who were “out with shovels to keep the fire from going over the road.” In addition, a farmer used a tractor and disc to plow a fire break.
    IVFD also responded to a false alarm at Chase County Schools Sunday afternoon.
Dry conditions
    Mitchell said people need to be very careful now, as it’s very dry everywhere. “We are so, so lucky we haven’t had more (fire) calls,” he declared. “Everybody’s been doing a great job” in observing fire safety.
    Mitchell said, “We will issue absolutely no burn permits until it either rains or snows.”
Fire Prevention Week
    Every year Fire Prevention Week is held the week of Oct. 9, in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began Oct. 9, 1871 and caused devastating damage.
    The fire killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres.
    During the week, firefighters provide lifesaving public education in an effort to drastically decrease casualties caused by fires.
    This year the theme is “Serve Up Safety in the Kitchen.” Information provided educates people about simple but important precautions they can take to prevent fires.
    Kitchen fires are the number one cause of home fires and injuries. Unattended cooking is the leading cause, while  scald burns are the second leading cause of all burn injuries.
    Mitchell said the IVFD usually presents programs concerning fire safety in the school and preschools in Imperial during Fire Prevention Week. However, due to Covid-19 issues, those programs are on the back burner.
    Hopefully the programs will be given at a later date, Mitchell added.