Grass Fire Blackens 20 Acres
One Person Carried To Hospital From Smoke

Arab, 4-C and Ruth firefighters battle a large grass fire Saturday afternoon near Dogwood Circle NE.        Photo by Dwight Hayes

February 9, 2008
A large grassfire that scorched approximately twenty acres between 9th St NE and Dogwood Circle NE kept firefighters from three departments busy for more than two hours Saturday afternoon.  The fire apparently spread to a large open field after a controlled burn of a brush pile got out of control.  The fire burned close to homes on both streets before being brought under control by firefighters and homeowners.

Don Shelton, age 33 of 9th St NE,  was transported to Marshall Medical Center North by Arab Fire Rescue Ambulance after experiencing breathing difficulties while helping to fight the fire.  Several homeowners manned garden hoses to help the firefighters protect their homes.

Approximately 15 firefighters, utilizing 8-9 trucks from the Arab, Ruth and 4-Cs fire departments responded to the fire according to Arab Fire Rescue Captain Jimmy Yarbrough.  Firefighters were hampered in some areas by rough terrain and low lying areas still wet from the recent rains.  A homeowner using a tractor to help in clearing some areas, was called to free a couple of the brush trucks that became stuck due to the conditions.