A sudden rash of brush fires combined with a series of calls for medical help kept Fannin County’s first responders covered up Thursday afternoon, December 29.
The first report of a brush fire was received by Fannin’s 911 center at 12:51 p.m. Within barely more than an hour, four more brush fires were reported and four calls came in for the county’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
Fannin County Fire Chief Larry Thomas said the first brush fire was reported on Lickskillet Road.
One hour and 13 minutes later, at 2:04 p.m., the fifth fire was reported on Henson Way off Sugar Creek Road.
In between, firefighters also responded to fires on Liberty Hill Road, Humphrey Mill Road and Cutcane Road.
The last fire to be brought under control was on Cutcane Road, which saw firemen finishing shortly after 3:15 p.m.
During the same time, EMS units responded to calls for help at four locations across the county, ranging from McCaysville to the Highway 515 area. “All our ambulances were tied up,” Thomas said.
Thomas said Friday morning the cause of three of the five brush fires had been confirmed as homeowners burning boxes and other trash.
A combination of gusty winds and extremely low humidity contributed to the fires getting out of hand.
Thomas warned, “When humidity is down in the 20s, it is not a good idea to be burning.”
The low humidity Thursday was brought on by the extremely low temperatures that had gripped the county.
Gusting winds also played a part in the fires getting out of control, as did extremely dry conditions.
Thomas encouraged everyone planning on burning to be aware of conditions in the burn area.
He said a rake or shovel and water hose should always be close by the fire, which should be well away from any structure.
Always have an exit route to get away if a fire does get out of control, and keep a cell phone handy to call 911 if needed.
Thomas said combustible materials, such as leaves, should be removed from the immediate area of the fire and away from any nearby structures.
And always watch the weather conditions, Thomas said.