Multiple fire crews respond to large brush fire in Southern Indiana
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - Southern Indiana fire units are monitoring the area where a large brush fire broke out Sunday afternoon.
News and Tribune reported the fire started shortly before 3 p.m. in the east part of Borden near “Top of the Rock” Road and Indiana 60.
When crews first arrived, they said they knew backup was necessary.
“Once we were on the scene working with Borden’s management and command staff, we decided that it was bigger than what we both could handle so we requested additional resources from Harrison, Washington County, Clark and Floyd Counties,” said Tri-Township Fire Protection District Chief Amir Mousavi.
Mousavi says multiple crews worked for about 20 hours on and off the scene to contain the flames and he cited terrain as a difficult external factor in the fire fight.
”Unfortunately, due to the terrain, and how steep it is, the containment line, even though it was pretty good, we still had rolling debris coming down and passing our containment line which by this morning it spread beyond,” Chief Mousavi shared.
Crews worked well into the night Sunday and were back Monday morning to find that the fire had spread even more due to the terrain and wind.
The spread called for them to warn homeowners who live within 3-4 miles to be on the lookout for possible dangers.
”We do know that ember’s can fly so if you’re burning even half a mile away or a mile away and embers can fly from your fire and then land somewhere,” explained Chief Mousavi.
At around 2pm Monday, crews felt the fire was contained enough for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to take control of the scene.
But Chief Mousavi says there is still work to be done.
”DNR is still there and they are going to have another two days of this probably. Today until probably later on this afternoon, when it starts to get dark again, and then they’re going to be back again tomorrow,” Chief Mousavi said. “So I would say by the time this is all said, and done with all the administration work and firefighting it is going to be well into 50 hours of time.”
There is currently a burn ban throughout parts of Southern Indiana and most of Kentucky.
No injuries have been reported among firefighters or civilians, and no structures have been damaged by the fire.
Officials are not sure what caused the fire.
Copyright 2023 WAVE. All rights reserved.
