Tire Fire Blackens Sky North of LG
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An old travel trailer was destroyed in the fire north of La Grange Thursday. Photo by The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office -
A large number of tires were among the debris that burned in the fire Thursday. Photo by Pct. 1 Commissioner Jason McBroom
A fire north of La Grange burned a pile of old tires and other debris north of La Grange on Thursday, Aug. 24.
Residents at the property near Schuster Rd. called 911 to report the fire around 11:38 a.m. La Grange Volunteer Fire Department responded with an engine, a tanker and two grass trucks.
“We don’t know how it started,” said La Grange Fire Chief Frank Menefee. “I couldn’t get much information from anybody out there. You could see the column of smoke from the Fairgrounds. When I got there, there were 10 to 12 foot flames and the fire was spreading into the top of the pine trees. Thankfully we had no wind, or we’d still be out there.”
Menefee called for assistance from Winchester Volunteer Fire Department, who sent a tanker and two additional grass trucks. A total of 17 firefighters battled the blaze. Local heavy equipment operator Joe Rogers brought a bulldozer to the scene and plowed a firebreak around the burning debris. The fire burned an old travel trailer that was parked nearby.
Fayette County EMS responded to assist in case any firefighters suffered injuries, but there were no injuries. Fayette County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
Firefighters extinguished the flames and left the scene around 1:42 p.m. They returned to the property later that afternoon for a small brush fire. Menefee said he believed the second fire started from some pine bark that had rekindled. They quickly extinguished the small brush fire.
Menefee wished to remind the public of the extreme fire danger as Fayette County remains under a burn ban.