May City, Iowa — A car was destroyed and 15 acres of grassland was burned in a fire that started late on Wednesday night, January 29, 2025, near May City.
According to May City Fire Chief Nick Shaffer, at about 11:30 p.m., the May City Fire Department was called to the report of a car fire at 225th Street and White Avenue at Business Corner, a mile and a half east and three south of May City.
The chief says the fire department saw the car on fire and “a big chunk of” the adjacent 80-acre CRP ground on fire as well as they approached the scene. He says they focused on the grass fire as there was no one in the car and the fire was headed for some houses.
Shaffer says no injuries were reported to people, pets, or livestock.
The fire department was assisted by the Ocheyedan, Melvin, and Hartley fire departments.
He says the car fire started in the engine compartment. A tool box was found next to the car.
Chief Shaffer reports that the car was totaled and about 15 acres of grassland burned in the fire.
He says the firefighters who responded were on the scene until about 1:15 a.m.
Shaffer tells us the flames were pretty large. He estimated them at between 10 and 15-foot flames, which could be seen as far away as Melvin, according to Melvin firefighters. He says he thanks the other departments, who, in his words, assisted, “drastically.”
There were at least three smaller fires on Thursday, from a hay bale smoldering in a shed near Sanborn to a grass fire near the Hawarden cemetery, to a grass fire near Primghar. Fire officials are urging caution and in some areas are asking people not to burn until we’ve had more moisture.