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The DeLeon Volunteer Fire Department
responded to a grass fire at approximately 3 p.m. on Bivar Street (old
Gorman Highway), Thursday, August 17, near the Diane Hernandez and
Emma Vasquez residence and the rear of the Dodd’s Auto Parts property.
Burning tires resulted in heavy black smoke, which could be seen for
many miles and briefly created a traffic hazard. A probable cause for
the fire was reportedly linked to welding near the area.
During the course of the fire, a small
explosion occurred and Doyle Rone, DeLeon Fire Chief, explained that a
55 gallon drum, contents unknown, ignited near some old tires, “and
when they caught fire it sort of exploded.”
Despite incredibly dry conditions, Rone
said he wanted to assure people there was no reason to panic.
“It’s dry out there,” Chief Rone said,
“but we’re not where we were at the first of the year. It’s plenty
dry, and people need to be careful, but we’re definitely not where we
were. But it’s going to get there if it doesn't rain, of course.”
Rone acknowledges that some conditions
are similar to those in December.
“We could probably ignite a fire just as
easily right now,” he said, “but it’s more controllable. Of course a
wind event could change everything.”
Most days, the winds are not an issue,
but according to Rone, 40 mph winds, “could mean we’re in trouble.” He
said that unusual electrical events could also pose problems.
“One thing we’re starting to see right
now, like we did the early part of last December, is unusual
electrical events,” he said. “It happened then because things were
drying out so much that they were losing the electrical grounds for
wiring.” In addition to arcing power lines, Rone said hay cutters, hay
balers and welding equipment could also pose problems.
Although there are similarities to
December fire events, there are some significant differences.
“It is much more demanding wearing our
protective equipment this time of year,” Rone said. “You’re just
sopping wet in no time at all, and it exhausts you.”
Chief Rone said that the time required at
recent fires is also unusual, and directly related to the dry
conditions.
“Sometimes we’ll go out and put out a
grass fire, and be back at home within an hour,” Rone said. “Right
now, we’re out there four, five hours, or even six of seven hours,
with all available personnel.”
The fire on the old Gorman highway took
approximately four hours to extinguish, and Chief Rone was quick to
acknowledge all the people who assisted.
“We had a backhoe from the city, that
Larry Solomon was operating,” Rone said, “and Ted Hodges was out there
on a bull dozer. We had law enforcement out there that we didn’t even
request. They brought us water, provided traffic control and even
grabbed water hoses and helped with the fire. We also had help from
two commissioners and Ted Moser. One unit from Promontory Park VFD was
there, and we had two from Gorman VFD, and we had five from DeLeon.
This was not only a victory for the fire department, it was a victory
for the community. Without the community, there is no fire
department.”
The DVFD was paged out on the same fire
again that night, around 9:30 p.m., but Rone said there was never any
danger. “We did that more for the property owner’s peace of mind,” he
said. |
