Ashton, Iowa — The cause is still somewhat of a mystery, but firefighters put out eight small grass fires along Highway 60 on Sunday, April 22nd.
According to Ashton Fire Chief Andy Gacke, the fires were all along the northbound right (or east) ditch on Highway 60 between the Poet ethanol plant and a few miles north of Ashton. He says the Sibley Fire Department was also called in to assist.
The cause is undetermined. Chief Gacke thinks it may have been a hot brake part from a truck. Sibley Fire Chief Ken Huls agrees. He says otherwise they may have been caused by cigarette butts. Both fire chiefs say that where there is no snow, the grass is pretty dry. Huls says they may have to watch for grass fires in the next few days, but Gacke says in the longer term, he expects this issue to go away soon as things green up. He says forecasters are predicting a fairly wet spring.
Gacke says they used about 800 gallons of water to extinguish the fires. He says the five to ten firefighters were on scene for about a half hour.
