Fire Fighters combat Friday Field Fire

Oskaloosa Firefighters battled this field blaze Friday afternoon near the intersection of 215th and Oxford (photo by Ginger Allsup)

Oskaloosa, Iowa- Oskaloosa Firefighters were on the scene of a field fire Friday near 215th and Oxford. High winds and dry conditions put the firefighters at a disadvantage as the winds drove the fire through the field. “We had the winds this afternoon that just took it off and carried it,” Fire Chief Mark Neff said. Neff said the fire was started by the property owner’s four-wheeler. “The farmer pulled over with the four-wheeler and was walking. When he come back to the four-wheeler, it was going,” said Neff.

Neff also said that because of high winds, mutual aid had to be called in from New Sharon. Neff said that while in route, the winds died down allowing the firefighters to contain the fire. “We called for New Sharon but about the time they got in route, the wind just kind of laid down out here,” Neff said. “Once the wind laid down, then we was able to kind of get in front of it, get everything knocked down,” Neff also said.

Three trucks from Oskaloosa responded. Neff estimated that 15-20 acres were burned and that 2,000 gallons of water were used to fight the fire.