Sunday fire spreads into trees, tires; UTV burned as cattle moved

    Rural fires took the Imperial Volunteer Fire Department to two different locations, and  Lamar firefighters to one of them, earlier this week.
    Both departments responded Sunday morning to a 10:15 a.m. fire at the Dan Reeves feedlot, about four miles northwest of Imperial, which started in ground hay, said IVFD First Asst. Chief Brad Wheeler.
    The hay was about 100 yards from the feedlot, but burned into a tire pile and a row of trees nearby.
    “We hit the hay pile first and then sent a couple of trucks to knock down the fire in the trees,” Wheeler said.
    Reeves used some of his own equipment to take out other trees down the line to prevent further spread, Wheeler added.
    Wheeler said the cause of the fire was uncertain but they suspect spontaneous combustion because Reeves had ground the hay two to three weeks earlier.
    Firefighters were on the scene about five hours.
    IVFD took seven units to the fire, while Lamar brought a pair of quick attacks and a tanker.
    Wheeler said they also appreciated the response from two area businesses. The FV Coop sent two semis of water, while Nutrien Ag Solutions provided one semi of water.
    On Tuesday morning, while moving cattle on Bob Milner ground, a UTV caught fire and was totalled, said IVFD Fire Chief Doug Mitchell.
    The cattle were being moved about two miles south of Spur 15A near the intersection of Road 328 and Avenue 734.
    Mitchell said the UTV driver noticed smoke coming from the unit, and parked it, when it was quickly engulfed in flames.
    Two IVFD quick attack units extinguished the fire, he said. Larger IVFD trucks were directed to turn back when they discovered what the fire involved, Mitchell said.
    Recent rains had greened up the area where the UTV caught fire and there was little wind when the 8:30 a.m. call came in, Mitchell said, which helped contain the fire to that area.