Grass Fire Makes For Treacherous Travel Along 163

Oskaloosa Firefighters quickly extinguish this small but smokey fire along Highway 163

Oskaloosa, Iowa – A small grass fire in a ditch located along Highway 163 between Oskaloosa and the Leighton turnoff caused a great deal of smoke, making travel along the highway potentially hazardous for motorists.

The call went out at 3:32 pm as the ditch of the residence belonging to Delmer Vos, 1621 Highway 163, became the scene of a small grass fire. Even with recent rainfall, the dry grass underneath helped the fire creep along low to the ground, also helping to generate a smoke cloud.

Firefighters used approximately 200 gallons of water to put out the flames, bringing them back to the station in short order.

This grass fire was very minor, but the problems faced by firefighters, and for that fact almost every emergency responder, were very evident as they attempted to get to this fire. When an emergency vehicle is approaching, your responsibility is to move to the right to allow safe passage of the emergency vehicle. Those precious moments when they have to slow down to avoid you could mean the difference in saving a life.