News from March 15, 2007 issue

Local News
The Crittenden Press (3 pages) PDF
(Selected pages 1A, 6A, 12A)
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Blazes keep firemen busy
You can tell it’s fire season around Crittenden County.
High winds, dry grass and warmer weather always mean one thing for local firefighters, and that’s more work.
Firemen have responded to several situations over the past week, including two fires that started almost simultaneously Monday on opposite ends of the county.
Fortunately, no one has been injured and in most cases, damage was was light to moderate.
The two most costly fires were a garage near Shady Grove Monday and a kitchen fire at a home on West Elm Street last Thursday.
Marion firefighters were able to contain the house fire that started just before dusk. Jackie Cosby and her two children were home at the time, but were not hurt.
The home suffered fire, smoke and water damage to the kitchen area and rear of the house.
A field fire was reported near the intersection of Ky. 70 and Brown Mine Road near Frances Monday about 1 p.m. Caldwell Springs Fire Department and Crittenden County Fire Department were both called to the scene. Some firemen had not yet arrived at that scene when another call came in from Ky. 120 near Shady Grove. A shed was on fire and it was dangerously close to Wayne Marsh’s home.
Shady Grove Fire Department and parts of the Crittenden County Fire Department responded to that blaze and brought it under control. However, the property owner had a couple of vehicles damaged by the fire, plus a bush hog, lawn mower and four-wheeler. The nearby home also sustained some superficial damage.
Marion Fire Department had its own problems with a pesky burning tree off Rochester Avenue early this week. Firemen had trouble getting the hollow tree completely extinguished and were called back to the scene four times. Finally, Fire Chief Red Howton ordered the tree to be cut down.
In Marion, one man was cited last week for violating the city’s open burning ordinance. It is illegal to burn anything inside the city limits other than leaves, sticks, grass or natural materials. The burning of plastic, food or other garbage is prohibited.
Also, state law prohibits most open burning during daylight hours, between 6 a.m., and 6 p.m.