Firefighters Urge Extreme Caution In Dry and Windy Conditions
The firefighters of the Cordell Fire Department were busy last week, as two separate grass fires broke out near the city. Crews quickly beat down the blazes before any structures suffered damage, but dry and windy conditions have increased the danger in recent weeks.
The first blaze, alongside Highway 183 just north of Cordell, was reported at approximately 3:50 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. According to Cordell firefighter Jason Dudgeon, the fire consumed roughly an acre grassland before crews were able to completely extinguish it.
Dudgeon said crews were mopping up that fire for about 30 minutes before clearing the scene. He also reported that no ignition source for the fire had been determined.
The second fire occurred at roughly 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 2, just east of Cordell. According to Dudgeon, the fire was caused by sparks from a local farmer welding on a fence. The fire burned about a half an acre before it was extinguished. After the fire, Cordell fire crews stayed on-site to assist the farmer while he completed his welding project.
Dudgeon cautioned people to be extra careful on dry and windy days.
“Spring is quickly approaching, so hopefully we start greening up soon,” he said. “Right now all the vegetation is still dead, and in windy conditions a grass fire can cover a lot of ground in a hurry, making it hard to get under control fast. Please pay attention to your surroundings when doing things that could ignite dead brush. Don’t hesitate to call 911 if you see a fire. The last thing we want is someone to lose something valuable such as an outbuilding, or worse, a house.”