09/21/2005: Dispatched to Controlled Burn
A little after 8 PM last night, the MFD was paged to a structure fire. It was about 9 miles east of Miller on Highway 14. The dispatcher mentioned that it was reported by a passing motorist.
The location of the fire actually placed it closer to the Wessington Fire Department so our emergency manager suggested that the dispatcher page them too.
At the same time, we had a crew out hose testing. Apparently, they had just finished, but still had lots of hose to load back on the truck. Some of them stayed to finish the job and others headed for the fire hall.
The land is fairly flat here and we could see the smoke and flames from about 7 miles away. We could tell it was a big fire. When we arrived, the structure had already collapsed. The Wessington FD arrived at the same time.
That was when we learned that the fire was actually a controlled burn. Usually, when a controlled burn is called in, the sheriff's office announces it over the radio so all emergency units know about it. Well, in this case there was a breakdown somewhere. Either the land owner didn't call it in, or the sheriff's office didn't announce it. I'm not sure which. I do know that the deputy sheriff and the police were busy last night with traffic stops. They may not have had time to announce the burn.
Oh well. On the bright side, I got to ride in the big red truck with the lights and sirens on.
