Several large fires burned in Marion County Monday fueled by dry vegetation and brisk winds.
Kell Fire Chief Lonnie McDaneld says a 30 by 50 foot pole barn burned on the Louis Jolly property at 10458 East Rileyville Road north of Dix. He reports the roof was already caving in upon their arrival. No one was home at the time and a neighbor reported the fire. The cause is unknown. McDaneld says a lawn mower, four wheeler, Jon boat, as well tools inside were all destroyed. Firemen were able to keep the fire away from a camper. Salem, Mt. Vernon City, Centralia Fire Protection District, Jefferson Fire, and Bluford all provided mutual aid at the scene while Wayne City covered the Kell Station in the event of another fire. The fire call came in at 12:34 Monday afternoon with firemen on the scene until 3:05 pm.
Kell Firemen were called to the William Perkins property at 8311 Exchange Road in rural Iuka Monday night. Perkins heard an explosion and saw a fire spreading across the grass and woods. It destroyed a chicken coup and slightly damaged two pole sheds before it was brought under control. Three acres burned. The fire was reported at 7:43 Monday night with firemen on the scene until nine pm.
The Centralia Fire Protection District fought a 25 acre grass and woods fire that spread across several properties in the one-thousand block of Burge Road east of Centralia. Fire Chief Ross Boshera says it apparently started from an unattended brush pile. The blaze burned around a carport and portable building, but both were saved from damage. Centralia City, Odin, and Kell firemen provided mutual aid on the scene and Salem Firemen stood by at the Centralia Fire Protection District in the event of another fire.
Kinmundy-Alma firemen fought a 15 acre woods and CRP land fire on the Ronald Lane and Randy Donoho property east of the Brown Church in rural Kinmundy. It began as a controlled burn that got away. No buildings were ever threatened. Firemen were on the scene for about an hour and a half beginning at noon.
Salem Firemen say a small grass and woods fire burned about a quarter acre at 3690 Tonti Road east of the I-57 overpass. The district also responded to two small fires in the Maplewood Avenue area near Tonti Road north of Salem.
