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Man burning brush starts 6-acre fire

From staff reports

HIGHLANDTOWN — The Highlandtown Fire Department battled a nearly 6-acre brush fire Saturday afternoon at 16820 Steubenville Pike that spread to a nearby state wildlife area.

The department received the call about the fire from a passer-by at 4:19 p.m. and upon arrival encountered high winds feeding a large brush fire, according to officials.

Highlandtown fire Chief Jeremiah Cole said the fire was caused by the homeowner who was burning leaves and sticks and the wind caught the flames.

Cole requested and got assistance from the Salineville, Irondale, Franklin Township and Lisbon departments.

The brush fire was in a u-shape around a farm on property that is part of the wildlife preserve area in the vicinity of Highlandtown Lake, it was noted.

The department notified the Ohio Department of Natural Resources since the fire affected the state wildlife area.

Cole said the homeowner could be cited for burning outside of state burn hours, which are between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. during the months of March, April, May, October, November and December.

He said the 30 firefighters at the scene brought the fire under control using a variety of fire apparatus, including ATVs, brush trucks, full size engines and tankers.

Assistance also was requested from West Point firefighters, but they were already battling a garage fire on DeSellem Road.

Cole said crews left the scene around 6 p.m.

He encouraged everyone to be aware of the state’s burning laws and to not burn anything outside of the 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. hours.

“Windy and dry conditions make for a bad day for firefighters,” he said.

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