(Le Mars) — Strong westerly winds flared up sparks from an old burn pile from three weeks ago and created a large-scale grass/field fire Monday afternoon. The fire started near the Christ Lutheran Church located on County Road C-16 and Iris Avenue, about eight miles northwest of Le Mars. Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper knew immediately that additional assistance would be needed to bring the field fire under control.
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{audio} images/stories/mp3/March 2014/Schipper field1.mp3{/audio}
Winds had pushed the fire towards the east and northeast, burning more than 80 acres of corn stalk stubble. The fire had advanced towards a farm, threatening a homested, but fire officials were able to surround the fire and control it before reaching the farm.
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Schipper says water tankers were strategically placed around the fire. Six grass pickup truck rigs were used to battle the blaze and refilling with water from one of the four tankers. Fire officials were fortunate the winds had shifted slightly, preventing the farm from catching fire. While on the scene, a cold weather front moved into the area, causing the air temperature to drop more than 20 degrees.
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Fire officials were able to extinguish the fire within two hours. MidAmerican Energy also assisted with the field fire.
