Recent fires have officials urging caution with controlled burns

One day after a massive grass fire near Kindred, officials are reminding you to be careful. The fire started as a controlled burn, but quickly got out of hand.

This black landscape is the result of a grass fire yesterday near Kindred. About 1,000 acres burned. Officials say with the dry conditions, there may be many more fires, but Captain Rick Majerus with the Cass County Sheriff's Office says those fires can be prevented.

Some simple steps you can take include proper disposal of cigarette butts and avoid parking your vehicle on dry grass. Exhaust systems can get hotter than 1,000 degrees, more than enough to start a brush fire.

When cooking outdoors, make sure your grill and propane tank is at least ten feet away from brush or shrubbery.

Captain Rick Majerus – Cass County Sheriff’s Office: “Obviously in dry conditions, they're going to have to treat that just like it's the middle of summer.”

If a grass fires does start, Captain Majerus says do not try to put it out yourself unless it's very small. He says to call the fire department immediately.

Captain Rick Majerus: “The fire departments in the area are much better designed and have more expertise in dealing with grass fires. I worry about people trying to take actions into their own hands.”

You're also encouraged to have firefighting equipment like an extinguisher and water close at hand.

Those living in woodland areas are also encouraged to have a 30 foot safety zone around their homes. It's a zone that's clear of brush, grass and leaves.

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