The strong winds Wednesday afternoon and evening are blamed on bringing down two power lines.
A Citation Oil Company power line that fell off the Hoots Chapel Road a half mile south of Red Stripe Road set off a three to four acre fire in six foot tall grass that spread rapidly due to the winds.
The Salem Fire Protection District was joined by Odin Firemen in bringing the fire under control. Salem Fire officials say no buildings were ever threatened. The fire apparently started when the power line started arcing in the tall grass after falling. Kell Firemen stood by at the Salem Fire Station in the event of another fire. Firemen were on the scene for about an hour and a half.
Centralia City Firemen say the strong winds caused a tree limb to fall into a power line near 2nd and Pine breaking a pole and causing the power line to fall on 2nd between Pine and Sycamore. Firemen stood by until Ameren arrived to replace the broken pole. The fallen line caused a power outage in the 2nd Street area. The downed line was first reported around midnight.
