Firefighters Warn About Burning Conditions After Fire Devastates Home
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MADISON COUNTY, Tenn.- Madison County fire officials are warning residents of the current, dangerous, burning conditions due to high winds, low humidity and cooler temperatures this fall. The warning comes after a home on Riverside Drive was destroyed by what officials said was a controlled burn that got out of hand, Saturday. Madison County Fire Chief, Eric Turner, told WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News firefighters responded to the home on Riverside Drive around 11 a.m. Saturday. Officials said the fire was put out within 20 minutes but managed to do extensive damage to the structure. “It was definitely out of control,” Chief Turner said. “They said they had seen the fire first in the garage area.” Investigators said the homeowners were trying to clean up and had made a small controlled burn within 10 feet from the garage. “Perhaps in the process of doing some outdoor cleaning there was some waste and rubbish being burnt. With that at a pretty close proximity to the garage the wind kicked up and it looks like there is a good possibility that the fire actually threw some embers into the garage which started the fire,” Don Friddle said, Madison County Fire Marshall. ” That’s what it looks like at this time, it is still under investigation.” Fire officials said with current dry conditions, cooler temperatures and low humidity even the most controlled fire can turn disastrous in a matter of seconds. “It can happen in a matter of seconds actually if the winds kick up and a person is standing in the wrong position it could catch your clothes on fire. There have been instances where vegetation surrounding the controlled burn has caught fire,” Friddle said. “The air is dryer so there is no moisture in the air so all the foliage and everything outside is dryer and it just makes things burn faster,” said Chief Turner. All Madison county residents must apply for burn permits in order to start any fire in Madison County. Officials said the burn permits are only issued on days the weather is favorable for burning. Firefighters are reminding residents that failure to comply to the burn permit process can result in legal action if property is damaged or someone gets seriously injured or killed as the result of a fire that has not been permitted. Burn permits are free of charge, to find out more about burn permits call the Madison County Fire Department at (731) 424-5577. Or visit: http://www.co.madison.tn.us/
