Firefighters Battle Several Recent Grass and Woods Fires Across Barrow County

Firefighters with Barrow County Emergency Services were busy this past week bringing grass and woods fires throughout the county under control. 

“Many of the fires started near the roadways and spread quickly,” Lt. Scott Dakin, public information officer for the department, said in a news release. “In many situations these can be caused by improperly discarding of smoking materials as well as even parking a vehicle in the grass.”

• On Thursday, March 14, Engine 7 responded just after 2:30 p.m. to a small grass fire at 916 Loganville Highway. Upon arrival they found grass burning near the PetSmart store. Firefighters were able to quickly bring the fire under control.
• Just before 3:30 p.m. Thursday, communication officers received several 911 calls reporting a grass fire burning on Atlanta Highway near Hill Shop Road. Engine 7, Engine 5, Med 4 and Battalion 1 all responded to this incident. Upon arrival of firefighters, more than two acres of grass and woods were burning and the fire was growing fast due to the windy conditions. Engine 16 from Gwinnett Fire was also on the scene. Due to the fire growing rapidly in the wind, firefighters also requested assistance from Georgia Forestry and a tractor and two off-road tankers responded. Auburn police officers also responded to the area to close a section of Atlanta Highway down for several hours due to the smoke affecting drivers' visibility.  
• Just before 11:15 a.m. Saturday, March 16, Engine 4 responded to the area of Browns Bridge Road for a reported woods fire. Upon arrival, crews found a small grass fire just inside the Gwinnett County line and were able to quickly extinguish the blaze. Bystanders reported that the fire had been started by a passing vehicle. Gwinnett County was notified of the fire and is handling the investigation.
• At 12:39 p.m. Saturday, Engine 1 responded to a small grass fire on Jefferson Road. Firefighters were able to quickly bring the fire under control.
• At 3:40 p.m. Saturday, Engine 1 and Med 1 responded to Sedgefield Trail for a grass fire. Upon arrival, firefighters found an acre of grass burning between homes. This fire was caused by an individual burning in a barrel when hot embers were blown out onto some long grass. The fire quickly spread in the wind to some pine needles. Two fences suffered damage from the blaze. 
• At 5:02 p.m. Saturday, Engine 3 responded to the area of Jefferson Highway and Rooks Road in reference to a reported woods fire, where firefighters found approximately 1.5 acres of grass and brush burning and the fire quickly growing due to the wind. Firefighters received assistance from the Winder Fire Department while extinguishing this blaze.
• At 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Engine 1 responded to Price Street near McCarty Road for a quarter-acre grass fire. Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish this fire.
• At 10:10 p.m., Engine 5 responded to smoke in the area of 1204 Dee Kennedy Road. Upon arrival, firefighters found individuals on the scene burning in a fire pit with a metal gas can in the middle. Due to the extreme dangers of the burning can, firefighters removed the can from the fire using a long pike pole and extinguished the can.  

“We want to remind citizens that although there has been a lot of rain this winter, the vegetation is still dry. This can cause a fire to grow rapidly and in windy conditions it will grow even faster,” Dakin said. “Throwing a lit cigarette or even a recently extinguished cigarette onto the grass can result in fire very easily. Also parking your vehicle can ignite the grass due to the temperatures of your exhaust system and other parts of your engine.”

Residents are reminded to use caution when burning outdoors and that gasoline is extremely flammable. Pouring gas on a fire or placing a gas can on a fire may result in an explosion causing large property damage as well as possibly injuring or even killing someone. 

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