COLUMBUS, Ind. — Columbus firefighters extinguished a large grass fire in a wooded area near Haw Creek just south of Rocky Ford Road on Tuesday.
Firefighters discovered that a large fire was consuming brush and trash near what firefighters believed to be a homeless camp near Haw Creek, said Capt. Mike Wilson, Columbus Fire Department spokesman.
When it was determined fire engines would be unable to access the wooded area, Columbus firefighters requested mutual aid assistance from the Columbus Township Fire Department, requesting that a brush truck be sent to the scene. The department’s brush truck, a four-wheel drive pickup, is outfitted with a water tank, fire hoses and a water pump system, that allows firefighter to provide fire suppression in off-road incidents.
Columbus Township Fire Department personnel assisted in successfully extinguishing the flames, Wilson said. Investigators were unable to locate any persons near the scene, but did identify a large amount of camping materials and trash in the area. Items located included a large liquid propane tank, plastic tote boxes and a wheeled cart. Firefighters also identified tent material within the fire debris. The fire spread was limited to a small area within the wooded area.
No injuries were reported at the scene. The exact cause of the fire is undetermined at this time, but investigators believe that an unattended campfire may have been a factor.
For more on this story, see Thursday’s Republic.
