February 6, 2009
What started out as a controlled burn to clean up some property at 2227 Cty. Rd. 1856, quickly got out of hand Friday afternoon and destroyed a large storage building and threatened a nearby trailer and several poultry houses.  The fire burned a large area around the building before it was brought under control by firefighters.  At least five departments including, Arab, Joppa, Baileyton, Summit, and Brooksville, responded to the scene.  Arab Fire Department later received a second call to the blaze after smoldering embers re-ignited and reportedly set fire to some trees.

Richard Jones told firefighters that he had just signed a contract to purchase the land and was trying to clean up old wood and junk lying around on the property.  He and a helper set fire to a pile of trash that quickly spread to the dry grass and underbrush and then to the building.  No one was injured in the blaze.