Sheldon, Iowa — Wednesday was a busy day for Sheldon firefighters. It began about 12:35 Wednesday afternoon when Sheldon’s ladder truck was requested to assist with a fire in Boyden.
Then, shortly before 1:30 pm, Sheldon Fire was called to a barn on fire at 4656 280th Street, or 2 ½ miles west of Ritter. Before leaving the station, Sheldon Fire requested mutual aid from the Ashton Fire Department.
According to Sheldon Assistant Fire Chief Brad Hindt, Sheldon firefighters responded with an engine, tanker and the truck that was in Boyden also responded. On arrival firefighters found a fully engulfed barn. Hindt says firefighters went into a defensive mode and cooled down the house and machine shed. At that time, Sheldon asked for a tanker from Matlock Fire and Boyden Fire.
Hindt says firefighters shuttled water from Sheldon, since the fire was under control. Farmers Market was called and came to the scene and removed the metal roof and hay that was in the barn so firefighters could reach hot spots.
35 firefighters responded to the scene and used about 25,000 gallons of water and 30 gallons of foam. The barn was a total loss and there was damage to the outside of the house and machine shed, as well, according to Hindt. He says the cause of the blaze is undetermined. Hindt says firefighters were on the scene until about 5:45 Wednesday afternoon.
Sheldon Fire was assisted on scene by Ashton, Matlock and Boyden Fire Departments, Sheldon Community Ambulance team, Sheldon EMA and Farmers Market.
While on the scene of the barn fire, Hindt says Sheldon fire crews were called shortly after 4:00 pm for a large grass fire 2-miles north on highway 60. One engine responded from town and another engine and tanker responded from the barn fire along with a tanker from Boyden.
On arrival firefighters found the road ditch, a large grassland and field on fire. Firefighters attacked the ditch fire with a hand line and an engine in the tall grass as well as a tractor with a disc in the field, Hindt says. 12 Fire fighters used about 2,500 gallon of water and were on scene for about an hour. Sheldon Fire was assisted at that scene by Boyden Fire and deputies from the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office.
Hindt says it appears the fire was started to the east of the road near a waterway by an unknown person.
Hindt urges caution if you are doing any open burning, since it is still very dry out.
Sheldon Fire was on that scene until about 4:30 Wednesday afternoon.
Some images from Wednesday’s fires may be seen below…………….
