Dry Conditions Blamed For Blazes; Burn Ban Issued For Brown Co
03/24/2014

(KNZA)--A burn ban has been issued for Brown and Doniphan Counties.

County Commissioners in both counties on Monday voted to implement a burn ban, effective immediately.

In Brown County, Commissioners say the burn ban will remain in place until the county receives a significant amount of moisture, and in Doniphan County it will be effective for a period of seven days.

Brown County Commissioner Steve Roberts says he was contacted by Hiawatha Fire Chief Bill Roland asking that the county issue a burn ban after his department responded to 12 rural calls last week.

The recent dry conditions are blamed for two Brown County weekend fires occurring in the Robinson area. 

Responding to both blazes, which began as controlled burns that went out of control, were fire crews from Robinson, Hiawatha, Horton, Everest, Denton and Highland. 

The Brown County Sheriff's Department, the County Rescue Squad and Town and Country EMS also provided support. 

According to Robinson Fire Chief Dennis Tietjens, the first fire happened Friday afternoon near the Brown County State Fishing Lake, at the residence of Gary Guy. That fire claimed a trailer house used for storage, along with other items and lumber in the path of the fire. 

The second blaze began Sunday afternoon, 4 ½ miles east of Hiawatha at the residence of Drew Vernon, located at 240th Road. 

Tiejens says several outbuildings, a pick-up truck and items stored in the buildings, were all lost to the fire. 

However, firefighters, in both incidents, were able to keep the homes on the two properties safe. 

An estimate of the damage caused by the fires is not immediately available. 

No injuries are reported. 


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