Buzzard Sparks Fire in Wild Week at Flatonia

The volunteers with Flatonia Fire and Rescue could barely catch a break Monday.

The action started with a rollover accident on Interstate 10 just before 11 a.m. According to a crash report from the Texas Department of Public Safety, 61-year-old Bruce Dolin Irwin of Kerrville was driving a maroon 2008 Toyota Tacoma east on Interstate 10 in the left lane.

The report said Irwin was “distracted by changing a CD in the vehicle’s radio.” The report said Irwin failed to drive in a single lane and veered into the left shoulder. The driver over-corrected to the right and went across both lanes of Interstate 10. The Tacoma traveled into ditch on the south side of the road and struck a tree. The pickup rolled onto its right side and came to rest.

Robinson said the driver was initially pinned inside but managed to get out through the broken back glass. Schulenburg Volunteer Fire Department also responded since the location was so close to the boundary between the two departments. Fayette County EMS responded as well and transported Irwin to Columbus Community Hospital for treatment. While at the scene on Interstate 10, Flatonia Fire and Rescue got another call to assist EMS at a home on Baca Lp. Robinson said a patient was suffering from a seizure. He said medics were able to get the situation under control by the time firefighters arrived. Later that afternoon, Flatonia firefighters were called once again, this time to assist a funeral home with removing a deceased man from a residence.

Then around 6:05 p.m., the Muldoon Volunteer Fire Department called for assistance with a grass fire on E. Parker Rd. Flatonia Fire and Rescue responded and helped put out the fire. Muldoon Fire Chief Stephen Kelly said a Fayette Electric powerline fell in a field and started a small grass fire. It burned about two acres before firefighters brought it under control.

“That was the busiest day I can remember in a long time,” said Flatonia Fire Chief Gregg Robinson.

Robinson wished to remind the public to stay vigilant about the danger of grass fires during these hot and dry conditions. Robinson said residents in his area seem to be heeding the danger, because there haven’t been many fires caused by human activity lately.

Now if he can just get the buzzards to listen. Last Friday, Robinson said, his department put out a small grass fire in town after a buzzard landed on a power line. The bird landed in such a way that it caused a short in the power line. The electrocuted buzzard fell dead to the ground, along with a shower of sparks, which ignited the dry grass below. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze.