Stubble blaze burns 30 acres on hot, windy day

    Rain has blessed the area since, but last Wednesday afternoon dry conditions continued as a point of concern for local firefighters.
    Mid-afternoon on July 11, the Imperial Volunteer Fire Department was called southwest of Imperial, where a stubble fire started on Meeske ground.
    Fire Chief Doug Mitchell said a piece of equipment on the combine harvesting peas became hot, starting the fire in stubble, which burned north into some wheat stubble.
    “It spread rapidly. It was one heck of a fire when we rolled up,” he said.
    With the dry conditions and some wind, Mitchell said it was moving fast.
    A road and green cornfield to the north helped stop its advancement, or “it might have been a different story,” Mitchell said.
    He said the firefighters did a great job knocking the fire down, which was under control in 20 to 25 minutes.
    The Lamar Volunteer Fire Department was called in to assist, but they were sent back before arriving after it was controlled, Mitchell said.