LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Several crews have worked on containing and controlling a brush fire in southern Indiana the past two days.
Amir Mousavi, the fire chief for Tri-Township Fire and Rescue, said he and his crew went to provide mutual aid after the Borden Fire Department got dispatched to the fire Sunday afternoon.
According to the Clark County Emergency Management Agency, crews responded to the brush fire in the area of Top of the Rock Road and State Road 60 around 2:40 p.m. Mousavi said crews fought the fire to contain it Sunday night. He said the conditions were hazardous, especially in the dark. He said a lot of debris fell downhill, while the fire climbed uphill.
Brush fire in Borden, Indiana. Image from Tri-Township Fire and Rescue.
He said the fire line did not hold, largely due to wind, and Tri-Township Fire and Rescue was requested to return to the scene Monday morning.
"It was contained last night, but, because, of how steep it is, when you have stuff that's still burning, they roll down hill," Mousavi said Monday afternoon. "And some of those things that are rolling down hill are — let's say a tree trunk — that is burned half way. It rolls down hill and it goes past our fire break."
Tri-Township Fire and Rescue said on its Facebook page that "although the fire did grow overnight, the fire is nearly 100% contained on all fronts" as of Monday afternoon.
Mousavi said crews were able to put a fire break line around the entire perimeter of the fire Monday, and, now, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources has taken over. He said most of the property involved is state property, even though it is in Borden's fire district.
Mousavi said there have been no injuries, no damages to any structures, and there is no need for public evacuations.
At this point, he believes the brush fire has involved about one dozen acres of land.
Brush fire in Borden, Indiana. Image from Tri-Township Fire and Rescue.
"We are estimating somewhere in the 10-12 acres that was actively on fire," Mousavi said. "And we believe we have a containment line around it. DNR is going to continue working on controlling the fire and eventually bring it under control."
He said the rain is helping. However, people will notice the smell more as that rain pushes the smoke closer to the ground.
"Now we're going to have smoke that's going to spread on the ground level," he said. "It's going to push the smoke down toward Highway 60 so people are going to smell that for sure."
Mousavi said the cause of this fire is unknown.
"We are not at the point of determining cause and origin," he said. "We leave that to DNR to deal with since it is on their property."
Tri-Township Fire and Rescue will return to the site to provide help as needed, including using a drone to get an overhead view of the area.
Related Stories:
Copyright 2023 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
