The Salem Fire Protection District put out multiple grass fires along the east side of Route 37 from Church to Sassafras Roads late Thursday afternoon.
Salem Assistant Fire Chief Bill Fulton says all but one of the fires was confined to the roadside ditches, but one was able to jump into a wheat stubble field near Route 37 and Sassafras Road and burned 15 acres before being brought under control. Fulton says changing wind directions complicated the firefighting efforts. Kell Firemen were called to bring an additional brush truck to make sure the fire did not jump the road.
The cause of the fire has not been determined, but most likely started from a vehicle.
The field had already been planted in soybeans that will have to be replanted.
The fire call came in at 3:30 Thursday afternoon and were on the scene for about an hour.
