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  • Controlled Burn Backfires, Starts Brush Blaze Save Email Print
    Winds spread blaze burning about 10 acres
    Posted: 4:59 PM Apr 5, 2008
    Last Updated: 9:58 PM Apr 5, 2008

    A | A | A

    High winds turned a controlled burn into an out-of-control fire Saturday afternoon near Louisville.

    A homeowner was trying to clear out some weeds and brush in a ditch. Instead, the strong winds whipped the fire into a much larger one burning close to 10 acres along Highway 31 west of Highway 50.

    The fire also burned some trees on the property. No one was hurt nor were any structures damaged.

    Firefighters from Springfield and Gretna extinguished the flames and offered some advice to others thinking about a controlled burn.

    “Always watch your wind conditions, watch the weather forecasts and keep an eye on it because like everybody knows, weather here in Nebraska can change rapidly," says Springfield firefighter Bob Roseland.

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    Posted by: Dah on Apr 13, 2008 at 05:27 PM
    As Mr. Flowers, weather man on channel 6, said just after story,"da-the wind advisory since early morning said, emergency for FIRE burning!" If the squad call is $744. This person should have to pay for 2 fire Depts. and Not the rest of the TAXPAYERS should have to pay for it! The wind at this site DID NOT just come up as someone else said! That person should have been there!

    Posted by: laura on Apr 7, 2008 at 03:03 PM
    My parents used to live in a rural area, and my step-grandfather lived a quarter mile south. He did the exact same thing on a day just like Saturday. If mom and I hadn't been in the dining room looking out and seeing the flames coming up the driveway, the whole house could have gone up. We got the garden hose and doused it (before it got too far out of hand). My dad was FURIOUS. I hope this guy only burned his OWN land, and that the 10 acres don't belong to his neighbors. And yes, the wind was forecast for this past Saturday several days in advance, although it did not really start in earnest around noon or 1 pm. High Wind does NOT equal open flame, people, be it a controlled burn or even a charcoal grill.

    Posted by: Joe on Apr 7, 2008 at 10:25 AM
    The winds were forecast the night before. I went riding that day, and there were winds and gust up to 30 mph the whole day just as it was forecast. The winds did not come out of nowhere. I rode right by this place and could not believe that anyone with half a brain would burn anything on such a windy day. He should have waited for a better calmer day.

    Posted by: Todd on Apr 6, 2008 at 07:05 PM
    After having seen the location and the extended fire, this was not as big adeal as this story makes it seem. Those of you who have commented on this story are unfamilar with having a rural fire on your property, as would be my guess. having a fire in the city would land you in jail but out here it is a normal occurance. We are all aware of the consequences of a range fire out of control and this homeowner had enough sense to call for support when he thought it may be out of hand, which is why it was not a bigger story than it was. There was nothing even close to this fire or the area it was in to cause concern and that is why a fire was started in the first place. The winds came on all of the sudden and could not be predicted even with the news/weather forecast. permits are free here in Louisville and if one was not approved or applied for then it is the "norm" to make a donation or pay for the costs of the support for the control of the fire.

    Posted by: Biff on Apr 6, 2008 at 04:59 PM
    j, maybe it was just this idiot's own property, but that's not to say that there shouldn't be consequences for him. Besides, it's just very fortunate that it didn't spread farther. In general, the ways of an idiot seem to have a ripple effect - it's rare that their actions only affect them.

    Posted by: j on Apr 6, 2008 at 02:59 PM
    it was his property so lay off

    Posted by: hmm on Apr 5, 2008 at 10:16 PM
    I hope the man was cited with a ticket. I'm sure he did not have a permit as none would be available due to the dry conditions lately. Also what did he think was going to happen with high winds.

    Posted by: Bill on Apr 5, 2008 at 09:39 PM
    I'll bet this guy doesn't know enough to come in out of the RAIN. It was news all over that the wind would blow.

    Posted by: RM on Apr 5, 2008 at 06:46 PM
    What moron does a controlled burn on a real windy day does he think the wind doesn't blow into the ditch. They should charge him for what it cost to put the fire out

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