CLEAR LAKE – A grass fire was reported north of Clear Lake on 300th Street Thursday afternoon at about 1:30 p.m., likely fanned by high winds. The fire spread to a nearby salvage yard, B20 Auto Salvage and Used Cars. Authorities were quickly on the scene to deal with the flames.
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As the fire grew, more help and water were needed. Ventura emergency personnel was asked to bring a truckload of water to the site.
The Clear Lake Fire Department, with the help of Ventura were able to get the fire out at approximately 3:00 p.m. or shortly thereafter.
A Cerro Gordo County deputy said, “It was a lot worse when we first got here, a lot more smoke.” He was directing traffic on Highway B20. For safety purposes, no one was allowed to drive up the driveway that led to the fire.
A second fire was reported shortly later on N. 24th Street in Clear Lake. A combine had started on fire and the fire had spread to the crops and grassy area south of the field.
The Clear Lake Fire Department had put this fire out once, but around 3:20 p.m., it was reported that it had started back up. Again, the high winds Thursday may have played a role in fanning these flames.
For the second time, the Firefighters when out to 2007 N. 24th Street. They were careful to look for all areas where it might start again. A reporter for the Clear Lake Mirror said, “I was out there and saw a leaf on fire. I stomped that one out.”
Roger Nelson, a Clear Lake Firefighter said, “We were lucky. The fire didn’t spread to any of the houses.”
The confirm this, a homeowner was there taking pictures of the after effects and commented, “My house is really smoky, and very smelly.”
Nelson said, “This fire is most likely caused by ‘hotspots’ in the combine”. The belts get hot, causing the dried crops to start fire.
Cost of damage from the two incidents was not yet known.
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