Published April 27, 2009 09:12 pm - A massive brush fire kept 13 fire departments from Ashtabula and Trumbull counties busy for about six hours Sunday.
Wayne brush fire requires 13 fire departments to help
By ELLEN KOLMAN - Staff Writer - ekolman@starbeacon.com Star Beacon
WAYNE TOWNSHIP -- A massive brush fire kept 13 fire departments from Ashtabula and Trumbull counties busy for about six hours Sunday.
Wayne Township firefighters responded to and extinguished a brush fire Saturday on Linton Road only to return on Sunday around 3:20 p.m. to battle a huge brush fire that encompassed a 100-acre area, said Wayne Township Fire Chief Joe Semai.
“The heat and wind on Sunday must have rekindled Saturday’s blaze,” Semai said. We were able to keep the fire contained in the woods thanks to a lot of help.”
That help included fire departments from Orwell, Rome, Andover, Windsor, Dorset, Jefferson and Pierpont. Trumbull County fire departments included Johnston, Greene, Burghill-Vernon, Mecca and Gustavus. Andover and Pierpont’s emergency rescue squads also responded to the scene, although there were no injuries reported.
Three bulldozers and a track-hoe also worked to form a 2,500-foot break line to knock out the fire.
“All of the fire departments sent out any all-terrain or off-road vehicles they had to help us,” Semai said.
On Linton Road there were six residents in danger, but the firefighters kept the flames at bay by positioning brush trucks right by the buildings to make sure they did not burn, he said.
“We had a real complex scene and it took several people to coordinate and keep everyone on the same page,” Semai said.
“We want to thank everyone who brought equipment, trucks and the National Disaster Response Team who set up a rehab area for our firefighters with water and refreshments,” he said. “Because of all this help we were able to keep everyone safe.”
Wayne Township Fire Department returned to the scene Monday morning to check for any hot spots.
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