Area fire departments kept busy in response to numerous field fires around the area

The unseasonably warm temperatures and wind have kept area fire departments busy.
As of Feb. 28, a burn ban has been put in place for Montgomery County. The full details of the burn ban can be found on page 3A.
At 11:24 a.m. on Feb. 24, the Elliott, Grant, and Red Oak fire departments and the Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency were dispatched to 1263 O Ave for a reported grass fire.
The wind picked up and embers from a previously burnt brush pile ignited standing crop grass on fire. Crews were able to extinguish the fire with no incident. The warmer temps did create a very muddy environment for suppression crews. No injuries reported.
Later that day, at around 3 p.m., the Villisca, Stanton, and Red Oak fire departments and the Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency were dispatched to 2472 110th St. in rural Page County for a reported field fire.
Fire crews made a quick knock down, even though they were fighting through a very muddy environment. No injuries were reported. The departments were assisted by Montgomery County Communications.
On Wednesday, Feb. 26 at around 12:30 p.m., the Elliott, Grant, and Red Oak fire departments were dispatched to 2602 140th St. for a reported field fire.
Embers from nearby brush piles had been blown into a fence line causing a grass fire. Fire crews quickly extinguished the fire without incident. The departments were assisted by the Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency and Montgomery County Communications.
Later that afternoon at around 4 p.m., Red Oak, Stanton, and the Elliott fire departments were dispatched to 1973 E. Ave. for a reported grass fire.
Fire crews arrived on scene and discovered fire had spread from a burn pile area, spread south along a fence line and into a grove of trees.
Fire crews were split into a northern suppression team and a southern suppression team. This brought the fire under control without incident. No injuries were reported.
The departments were assisted by the Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and Montgomery County Communications.
On Feb. 27, the Villisca, Stanton, and Clarinda fire departments were dispatched to the 1100 block of V Avenue for a reported field fire.
Upon arrival, fire crews had fire in a corn stalk field, waterway,  and ditch with the wind pushing the fire towards two different homes. Fire crews were able to stop the progression of the fire prior to it reaching the structures.
Crews finally were able to get the fire extinguished after dealing with windy and muddy conditions. No injuries were reported. Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency, the Page County Sheriff’s Office, Page County Communications, and Montgomery County Communications assisted at the scene.
The situation came to a head on Friday, Feb. 28. Montgomery County Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Hamman recounted numerous field fires in the county, and expressed his appreciation to the U.S. National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska for monitoring the fire trends and quickly alerting emergency responders of wildfire detections via satellite. They were able to detect five fires prior to them being reported to 9-1-1.
Hamman also expressed appreciation to area farmers who quickly responded to all the different fires with tractors and discs as well as all of the responding fire departments.
“Most all have fulltime jobs and are volunteers who give up their time to help when called upon. I also want to express my appreciation to Montgomery County communications and all the area dispatchers who had a difficult day with all of the fires. At one point, we had four active field fires within Montgomery County ongoing. They fielded numerous calls and answered all radio traffic without hesitation and with the upmost professionalism,” Hamman said.
A brief list of each Friday fire is listed below:
At 11:30 a.m., Montgomery County EMA was notified of a wildfire detection via NWS radar in the area of US Hwy 71 and US  Hwy 34. Montgomery County 911 received a 9-1-1 call shortly after, reporting a field fire in the area of 220th Street and T Avenue  and fire departments were dispatched. The fire quickly grew out of control, jumped the road and was eventually contained with fire suppression units and tractors and discs. Crews were on scene for roughly two hours. One minor injury was reported.
Origin: Previously lit burn pile. Estimated 45 acres burned.
Responding agencies: Villisca,  Stanton, Red Oak, and Corning fire departments,  Montgomery County EMA, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and Montgomery County communications, as well as three tractors and discs.
At 1:08 p.m., Montgomery County 911 received a report of a small field fire in the area of 230th Street and C Avenue southwest of Red Oak. Fire crews from the initial fire were released and responded as well as surrounding county mutual aid partners. The fire was quickly contained by a tractor and disc and with the first arriving fire units. No injuries reported.
Origin: Previously lit burn pile.
Responding agencies: the Red Oak, Stanton, Emerson, and Essex fire departments, Montgomery County EMA, and Montgomery County communications.
At 2:01 p.m., Montgomery County EMA was notified of another wildfire detection via NWS radar in the area of US Hwy 48 and H Avenue. Fire crews from the second fire were released and dispatched to the scene as well as additional mutual aid partners. Additional out of county mutual aid resources were requested along with several area farmers with tractors and discs. Fire crews remained on scene for roughly six hours at this incident scene due to numerous piles of debris smoldering. One  minor injury was reported.
Origin: Previously lit burn piles. Estimated 150 acres burned.
Responding agencies: the Red Oak, Elliott, Stanton, Grant, Griswold, Carson, Macedonia, and Clarinda fire departments, and numerous tractors and discs
At 2:48 p.m., Montgomery County EMA was notified of an additional wildfire detection via NWS radar in the area 110th Street and O Avenue. Mutual aid crews responding to the Hwy 48 and 110th Street fire were diverted and found an ongoing field fire in the area of 155th Street and  Pine Avenue. A tractor and disc was already deployed in the field assisting to create a fire break and out of county mutual aid partners were requested due to the large ongoing fire west of Elliott. Crews remained on scene for roughly 90 minutes. No injuries reported.
Origin: Previously lit burn pile.
Responding agencies: the Grant, Stanton, Villisca, Essex,  and Clarinda fire departments and one tractor and disc.
At 3:18 p.m., Montgomery Co EMA was notified of an additional wildfire detection via NWS radar in the area of 270th Street and O Avenue. Montgomery County 911 also took a call reporting this field fire and fire crews that were en route to the previous fire were redirected and quickly contained the field fire with additional assistance from tractor and discs that were on scene or arrived shortly after. Crews were on scene for one hour. No injuries reported.
Origin: Previously lit burn pile.
Responding Agencies: the Stanton, Villisca, and Clarinda fire departments, and three tractor s and discs.
At 3:38 p.m., Montgomery County EMA was notified of an additional wildfire detection via NWS radar in the area of 110th Street and C Avenue. Out of county mutual aid was requested as there were no available fire units within Montgomery County due to numerous ongoing field fires. Some units were able to be released from the Hwy 48 and 110th Street fire to aid the out of county mutual aid resources and additional tractor and discs were called or responded directly to the scene. Crews were on scene for two hours. No injuries reported.
Origin: Previously lit burn pile.
Responding agencies: the Red Oak, Griswold, Carson, Macedonia Oakland, Henderson, and Clarinda fire departments, as well as numerous tractor and discs .
The Mills County EMA,  Pottawattamie County EMA, Page County EMA, Cass County EMA, and the Cass County communications center also provided assistance on Friday.