Approximately two acres burned in cornfield fire; Started by contents of wood burner
Published 8:18 am Wednesday, October 24, 2018
No injuries were reported after about two acres of a cornfield burned Monday afternoon and evening.
According to Austin Police Chief Brian Krueger, police and the Austin Fire Department responded to a call at 4:42 p.m. on Monday about a fire in a cornfield behind a residence in the 2400 block of 16th Avenue Southwest. The homeowner had emptied the contents of a wood burner on the edge of the field. He told firefighters and police that he did not realize the contents were still hot and thought he had placed them in the dirt.
Austin Fire Chief Jim McCoy said he happened to drive by the area when he saw the fire and that the homeowner tried to put out the fire himself instead of calling 911.
Austin police cleared the scene at 5:24 p.m. Austin firefighters stayed on the scene until 6:22 p.m.
McCoy advised that hot ashes should be placed in a metal container until they cool before being properly disposed. He also advised caution because this time of year is dry and windy and said to immediately call 911 should something like this occur.