(Spirit Lake)– Two lakes area fire departments battled a large grass fire Tuesday evening southeast of Spirit Lake.
Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire Chief Steve Dulin says his department was initially called to the scene about a quarter-of-a-mile east of Camp Foster around 5:45 p.m.
Upon arrival, Dulin says they found a large area of grassland on fire. He says the Spirit Lake Fire Department happened to be in the same vicinity investigating reports of another fire. Turns out, though the fire was the same one Arnolds Park/Okoboji was at. Dulin says it’s fortunate the Spirit Lake Fire Department was in the area, though. He says an Arnolds Park/Okoboji truck got stuck in the bottom of a slough that had dried up, but was still muddy. In addition, a strong northwest wind was threatening to quickly spread the blaze. At that point, Dulin says Spirit Lake assisted.
Even then, he says it took about an hour to contain and extinguish the blaze.
Dulin estimates some 15 to 20 acres of grassland was burned.
This fire was just north of one Saturday evening in the Spring Run area that also burned a large area of grassland.
Dulin believes the blaze Tuesday evening and the one Saturday were caused either by a cigarette tossed from a vehicle, or a vehicle that had been parked in the area.
A burning ban continues for Clay, Dickinson and O’Brien counties until further notice due to the drought conditions.
