Two large range fires in the same area, on the same afternoon, challenged area fire departments last Friday, March 13.
These were just two of many area fires that spread due to extremely dry conditions and strong winds in the past week.
Albion Fire & Rescue was first paged at 2:10 p.m. Friday to a grass fire along 260th Street between 280th and 290th Avenues, about two miles east of town.
This fire eventually reached about one-half mile wide at its widest point, and progressed about a mile to the southeast, according to Albion Fire Chief Bruce Benne.
Almost simultaneously, another grass fire started to the southeast near the intersection of 280th Street and 300th Avenue, and burned all the way to Boone. Fire departments from St. Edward, Genoa, Newman Grove, Cedar Rapids, Lindsay and Petersburg were called in for mutual aid.
Firemen were still battling spot fires after 5 p.m.
This was one of several fires in the area last week.
Details in the March 18 Albion News Print and E-Editions.
Area departments respond to major wildfire
