House Fire Believed to Have Originated in Nearby Dumpster

Schulenburg Volunteer Fire Department put out a house fire Saturday afternoon, Aug. 23.

The call came in around 7:15 p.m. reporting a house on fire near the Schulenburg ISD campus. Fire Chief Darren Guentert said the house was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived, and the flames were beginning to threaten several nearby homes. The fire had spread to a shed on the property, several trees and a neighbor’s fence.

Schulenburg VFD responded with 22 firefighters and four trucks, including their ladder truck. Firefighters used the ladder truck to attack the the flames from above, especially the burning trees, which Guentert said was instrumental in keeping the fire from spreading to the nearby homes.

Fayette County EMS and Schulenburg Police Department also assisted. There were no injuries.

Guentert said no one was at the property when first responders arrived. He said the property owner had been working to demolish the home. Guentert said he didn’t know exactly home the fire started, but it appeared to have originated in a dumpster that was on the property.

Schulenburg VFD extinguished the flames and left the scene around 9:40 p.m.

Guentert said his department also put out a mid-afternoon grass fire on property along Klesel Rd. south of Schulenburg. He said people on the property were burning some brush and flying embers spread the fire to a pasture, which firefighters were able to contain.