IVFD, other departments hold off large grass fire

    The Imperial Volunteer Fire Department (IVFD) received a fire call at 11:06 p.m. last Thursday night near 314 Avenue and 724 Road, south of the Dundy County line.
    With aid from departments in Lamar, Wauneta, Benkelman and Haigler, the fire was contained and extinguished quickly.
    IVFD Fire Chief Doug Mitchell said the grass fire was started by a tree that was blown over into a power line.
    The affected area was about 100 acres of pasture.
    “There was a wind storm that blew through that night around 10:30 p.m.,” Mitchell said.
    “We got south of (Bob) Milner’s and there were downed trees and branches all over the road. (The fire) was definitely caused by the wind knocking that tree over,” he said.
    Mitchell said they were lucky it didn’t advance north with the wind.
    “It was definitely kept under control since we had so many trucks,” he said.
    “We had great response from everyone.”