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Blown-Out Tire Sparks Series of Fires
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Firefighters from Flatonia, Schulenburg and Muldoon all assisted in putting out a series of grass fires along Interstate 10 near Flatonia on Friday afternoon, Feb. 23. Photo courtesy of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office
A tire blow-out on an 18-wheeler started a string of grass fires along Interstate 10 last Friday, Feb. 23.
Flatonia Fire Chief Chris Swenning said his department received the call around 3:25 p.m. Swenning said a westbound 18-wheeler hauling a load of turfgrass had a blow-out in its rear right tires. The blow-out caused the trailer to drag on the asphalt and showered sparks into the ditch. The sparks started a series of grassfires along about three to four miles of the Interstate.
“Thankfully, the fire was slow moving,” Swenning said.
Flatonia Fire and Rescue initially responded. They called for mutual aid from Schulenburg and Muldoon Volunteer Fire Departments.
Schulenburg firefighters attacked the fires from the east. Flatonia and Muldoon firefighters worked from the west, and the three agencies met in the middle.
“We had a really good response from all three departments, and that definitely contributed to the quick dousing,” Swenning said.
The fire was out by around 5 p.m.
Also assisting with the fire were the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Flatonia Police Department and Schulenburg Police Department. lenburg