East Twp. forest fire burns about six acres

By Carol McIntire, Editor

Firefighters from six area departments battled a forest fire for over five hours Oct. 30.

Fox Twp. Fire Department Chief Fred Barnett said he was at the Fox Twp. station when a Carrollton Schools bus driver pulled in to tell him of a fire near the Boy Scout camp in East Township.

Barnett said he contacted the Carroll County dispatch center to report the fire.

“When we arrived on scene, the fire was out of control,” Barnett said. “Flames were shooting 15 feet in the air and there was dense smoke.”

The fire involved about six acres of forest land at 8021 Meridian Rd. owned by Brad Oyer.

Firefighters from Carrollton Village and Augusta Twp. in Carroll County and Hanover Twp., Franklin Twp. and Winona in Columbiana County, provided assistance in bringing the fire under control. In total, there were about 50 firefighters on scene. Water was shuttled from a nearby pond to fight the fire. Barnett said about six acres were burnt.

“We had to use side-by-sides to get to the fire,” Barnett said, adding the cause is undetermined but under investigation.

“There wasn’t any electric fence close, and I didn’t have a chance to speak to the landowner,” Barnett said. “Even though the burn ban has been lifted, the seasonal burn ban from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. remains in effect,” he noted. “I would also encourage resident not to burn on dry windy days.”