Area firefighters busy Wednesday with at least three incidents

It was a busy day for firefighters in Nobles County on Wednesday, as there were at least three fires reported and fought by local departments.

The Worthington Fire Department was dispatched at 7:18 p.m. to a barn fire in the 27000 block of Plotts Avenue. Fire Chief Trent DeGroot, who noted that the call was his first since he became chief in February, said the fire was the result of a controlled burn that got out of control. 

The barn was pretty well gone by the time firefighters arrived at the scene, DeGroot said. Hay bales and other miscellaneous items inside the barn were damaged. The biggest challenge at the scene, he said, was working to keep hay bales from smoking and smoldering. Firefighters were at the scene until 11:15 p.m.  

Earlier Wednesday, the Lismore Fire Department was dispatched at 2:35 p.m. for a garage fire in the 19000 block of Cory Avenue. 

Fire Chief Jim Weidert said residents at the address went into the garage to get something and spotted smoke. The fire originated in a corner of the garage, and a pickup parked inside suffered smoke damage. The Adrian Fire Department was dispatched for mutual aid, but Lismore firefighters ultimately handled the garage fire on their own as the Adrian team was dispatched to a fire of its own.

That fire --- also at a barn located in the 22000 block of Chaney Avenue — was reported to the Adrian Fire Department at 2:40 p.m. Wednesday. Assistant Chief Brandon LeBrun said there were flames coming out the top door of the barn upon arrival, and it wasn't long before the building became fully engulfed,

LeBrun said there was no equipment inside the barn. Firefighters spent about three hours at the scene, as they worked hard to keep grass fires from igniting and spreading. Both the Rushmore and Ellsworth fire departments were dispatched for mutual aid, and the Lismore Fire Department responded after it left the scene of the Cory Avenue fire.

A Red Flag Warning was in effect Wednesday in Nobles County. That remained the case Thursday.

Photo courtesy of Tanya Echternach