Wind Fans Two Grass Fires in Salem

No injuries resulted from the two fires.

Photo by Chris Riffle/Salem Fire

(SALEM) - The Salem Fire Department responded to a high-risk grass fire at 11:32 PM on Sunday at 6394 Skyline Dr. S. Salem Fire's Chris Riffle says firefighters arrived to find a rapidly spreading grass fire that threatened livestock and a barn.

Firefighters aggressively used foam and water to extinguish the fire and prevented it from spreading to any other nearby properties.

Investigators say the property owner, Terry Kessler, had started a small, authorized slash burn on the property. But, the dry, low humidity conditions were fanned by the wind and quickly caused the fire to get out of control.

The fire burned approximately 2 acres, the cattle and horses were not harmed.

About 45 minutes later, a second grass fire was reported at 5865 Skyline Rd. S.

Returning from the original fire, engine crews quickly extinguished the fire, which burned about 1/4 of an acre.

There were no injuries reported due to the fire.