Photo By: (BLfiredepartment.com) Brushfires spread across springfield and many residents worry if they will ever stop.
By: Lauren Goldstein; Staff Writer
Springfield, IL- Hot, dry weather has been taking a toll on grasslands and fire fighters over the last few weeks.
Saturday, in the wake of 15- and 25-mph winds and a high temperature of 99 degrees, fire protection agencies from across the area responded to sixteen calls.
The most violent grass fire occurred on Peabody Road north of Prathersville and west of Route 19. County Fire Chief Debra Schuster said that paramedics were treated on site and at least five of the 35 fire fighters were treated for heat exhaustion.
Three fire fighters were hospitalized for heat exhaustion, while two of the fire fighters were flown to Springfield Hospital (include town name). All three were treated and released.
Dennis Sapp, fire captain of Station No. 1 (research location) said the blaze on Peabody Road was most likely started by a trash fire. The blaze destroyed some nearby farmland and a barn located on the farmland.
Schuster said that fires such as the one on Peabody Road have been occurring all day. The northern part of the city and county has been hit hard lately. When questioned about the cause of these fires, Schuster was reluctant to suspect arson, but in the end believes that careless burning was a more likely cause.
“We don’t have any evidence there is an arsonist,” Schuster said. “We sure hope we don’t have someone running around starting fires on purpose but there is that possibility.”
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