Fire and EMS said that the fire was “deep seated and extending rapidly” when they arrived, partly driven by dry conditions.
Fire crews were able to get water on the fire within minutes of arrival, but due to the terrain crews couldn’t get to the area where the fire started for 30 minutes, the release said.
Multiple grass fire trucks from Miami, Montgomery and Clark counties were called to the scene to help contain the fire, and a farmer that owns a field to the east of the fire location helped by using his machinery to let crews access the fire from that side.
The grass fire trucks were supplied by multiple fire engines and water tankers.
In addition, Tipp City Electric Department arborists helped to extinguish standing dead trees that were too dangerous to cut down.
Crews on the scene reported the main part of the fire was suppressed a little over two and a half hours after the fire was reported, declared that the situation was contained two hours after that, and finally said the fire scene was secured at 6:08 p.m.
No injuries were reported in the fire.
Tipp City Fire and EMS Chief of Emergency Services Cameron Haller said in the release, “It took hours to overhaul and extinguish all spot fires. We all came together well to extinguish this fire.”
Jurisdictions that responded to help with the fire include: West Milton, Bethel, Vandalia, Casstown, Laura, Ludlow Falls, Pleasant Hill, New Carlisle,Bethel-Clark, Fletcher, Troy, Christiansburg, Tipp City PD and all off duty Tipp City Fire and EMS personnel.
In all, the fire, which began unintentionally from an open campfire and was fueled by extremely dry conditions, spread across an estimated three acres, the release said.
“The fire service implores all citizens to stop burning for any type of disposal purposes at this time. The conditions are not safe to start any type of fire that an individual cannot contain or have the appropriate safety measures in place,” the release said.
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