Firefighters battled a 5-acre brush fire in the Imperial area on March 20 and kept it from spreading to nearby residences, Saline Valley Fire Marshal Ryan Lesh reported.
The district responded to a call about 2:40 p.m. about the blaze near East Rock Creek Road and Grandview Drive. Lesh said more departments were requested after crews arrived and found a large fire in the woods moving toward residential structures.
“The initial size-up estimated approximately 5 acres burning in steep terrain,” he said. “Due to low humidity and winds gusting to 21 miles per hour, the brush fire was upgraded to a second alarm.”
He said firefighters had the fire under control by about 3:50 p.m. and remained on scene for about another two hours putting out hot spots.
No injuries were reported during the incident.
Lesh said no cause of the fire had been determined, but it was not considered suspicious. He noted that current weather conditions increase the danger of brush fires.
“Low humidity and high winds,” he said. “It’s not a good time to burn leaves and brush.”
The Rock Community, Antonia, High Ridge, Fenton, Goldman, Hillsboro and Cedar Hill fire districts, the Rock Township Ambulance District and St. Louis First Responder Canteen assisted with the call, he said, and Valley Park Fire covered Saline Valley’s district during the incident.