Controlled burn gets out of control and scorches 40 acres in Summit, forcing closure of Highway 67

A controlled burn by a property owner in the village of Summit jumped into a corn field and resulted in about 40 burnt acres.

According to Western Lakes Fire District Chief Brad Bowen, the incident took place in the afternoon of April 6 on Highway 67 between Genesee Lake Road and Summit Moors Drive. Highway 67 was closed at one point due to a change in the direction of the fire toward where the fire trucks were parked.

Bowen said the initial response to a grass fire is two grass trucks and a water tender. But when the corn field became involved, the call was upgraded so all of Western Lakes' stations responded.

"We actually ended up having all three of our grass trucks, our two firefighting ATVs, which have water and hose on them as well," Bowen said. "So five vehicles that were able to be out in the field extinguishing the fire. On top of that, we had additional water trucks to keep filling up the grass trucks, fire engines, ambulances and our rehabilitation unit."

Bowen said the incident was a prime example of how a 10-mph wind can move a fire across a field.

"There were a couple houses in the area, and the fire was quickly headed in that direction," Bowen said. "Unfortunately it continued to move in another direction as well, because a grass fire goes in a circular motion. It's not like it goes in one direction."

Crews were able to protect the homes, which included one surrounded by pine trees that had dried pine needles on the ground.

"That could have been catastrophic if it got into there," Bowen said. "It was about within 100 yards of that house. We were able to stop it there."

Firefighters also responded to the fire from Eagle, Okauchee, Sullivan and Wales-Genesee. Crews were on scene for around three hours.

Bowen said it is the time of year when grass fires are most prevalent.

"The grass is extremely dry," Bowen said. "The slightest change in wind direction or a gust of wind can pick up embers or a burning leaf can move and you start fires elsewhere."

Bowen said residents should check their local municipal ordinances on burning, have a rake or shovel and a water source and a cell phone when burning. 

Contact Evan Frank at (262) 361-9138 or evan.frank@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Evanfrank_LCP.