BY TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
Lack of snowfall and snow melt and early spring weather conditions this year have resulted in an earlier-than-normal risk for grass fires, and a grass fire this past weekend was a good reminder of the danger.
On Saturday, March 2, 2024, the Merrill Fire Department (MFD) was dispatched to the report of a grass fire at or near N3096 State Hwy. 17 northeast of the City of Merrill, in the Town of Merrill. MFD responded with Engine 61, Medic 61, Tender 65, Brush 66 with UTV, and Car 60.
“Upon arrival, the fire had burned its way up to a metal shed and was spreading in several different directions,” MFD officials said. “The fire crew quickly applied water to the exterior of the metal building to cool it down and began attacking the grass fire.”
About 20 minutes and 600 gallons of water later, the fire was out after burning about 1/4 acre of grassland.
“A search of the interior of the metal building did not reveal any fire spread inside the building,” MFD said. They said the fire was caused by improper but unintentional use of a “campfire type flint striking tool.”
The lone occupant of the property was home at the time of the incident and “sustained minor non-life threatening thermal injuries that did not require medical treatment or transport.”
In addition to the MFD, the Wisconsin DNR and Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies responded to and assisted at the scene.
