Grass pile fire calls IVFD in windy, cold conditions

By Jan Schultz
The Imperial Republican
    Internal combustion is the suspected cause of a fire at the city’s transfer station site Tuesday morning.
    Firefighters from the Imperial Volunteer Fire Department spent two and a half hours on the scene fighting the grass pile fire, which was reported about 8 a.m.
    The 18 IVFD members responding battled wind gusts of 20-25 mph, said Fire Chief Doug Mitchell, as well as temperatures in the mid-20s.
    Mitchell said from where the fire started, it appears that the pile became hot inside, and began to burn, sending smoke billowing upwards.
    As city crews in a payloader, backhoe and dozer spread out the pile, a few of the firefighters started back fires to the south in case it spread that direction, Mitchell said.
    However, the fire didn’t get that far, Mitchell said.
    The trucks did apply some water to areas around the grass and fence to the south, he said.
    IVFD took seven trucks to the scene, returning to the fire barn about 10:30 a.m.
CO leak at trailer court
    The IVFD responded to Capitol Mobile Court Dec. 23 on a possible carbon monoxide leak.
    Mitchell said the occupant of the trailer along Shorthorn Street was examined on scene by Imperial EMS, but was not transported to the hospital.
    Mitchell said CO levels in the home were a little higher than normal.
    Black Hills Energy also responded to the scene.