Saw Sparks 50-Acre Fire on Roznov Road

A grass fire on Roznov Road east of Warrenton burned about 50 acres on Monday, July 13.

Round Top-Warrenton Volunteer Fire Department got the call shortly after 11 a.m. A pair of workers were at the property building a new entrance from the road. One of the workers told the Record he was cutting a piece of rebar with a saw. The saw threw a spark into the grass and ignited the dry vegetation, he said.

The worker said he called 911 to report the fire right away. He and his co-worker tried fighting the fire with shovels until firefighters arrived.

“We tried to put it out, but it spread too fast,” he said.

Round Top-Warrenton Assistant Fire Chief Calvin Krause commanded the scene that morning. His department brought two grass trucks, a tanker and six firefighters. Soon after arriving, Krause called for assistance from Fayetteville Volunteer Fire Department, which brought a grass truck and a crew of three.

“There was just so much fuel out here, and the wind was pushing it,” Krause said. “It made a lot of heat.”

The fire that morning burned only three acres. The two departments put out all of the flames and soaked the hot spots with water. They left the scene around noon. Then about an hour and a half later, Round Top-Warrenton VFD got a call reporting that the fire rekindled.

Fire Chief Frankie Srubar commanded the scene that afternoon. Srubar said the fire spread to a wooded area that complicated efforts to put it out. He called for assistance from Fayetteville and La Grange VFDs. At one point, the flames got within 100 yards of a home. Firefighters were able to control the blaze before it damaged any buildings.

The three departments finally put out the stubborn fire around 6 p.m. Srubar estimated that the fire scorched about 50 acres of pasture and woods.

County Commissioners implemented a ban on burning in the unincorporated areas of the County last week. Citizens should remain vigilant about the danger of fire while the area experiences hot and dry conditions.