March 12, 1972

Rash of 13 fires in Johnson County

       A rash of grass fires and field fires, including one caused by a passing freight train, kept firemen busy over the weekend in Johnson County. There were 13 fire runs reported from five fire departments. The fires prompted warning from county fire officials who urged county residents not to burn trash through the remainder of the normally windy month of March. Firemen are asking county residents not to leave fires unattended, if burning is necessary and be sure all fires are out. Volunteer firemen in White River Township reported three grass fires Saturday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. on Melody Avenue in Villa Heights, in the Sutton addition on route four and on Smith Valley Road east of State Road 135. On Friday night, White River volunteers extinguished a grass fire in Smith Valley Road at 8:45 p.m. Franklin city firemen reported two trash fires and grass fires. Fire which may have started from burning trash extensively damaged a garage on Yandes Street on Saturday. Grass fires were reported off U.S. 31 north of Franklin at 10:53 a.m. Saturday and burning trash caused a fire behind Kenny’s Sunoco Station, 257 South Main Street, at 5:55 p.m. Old used tires were burned in the fire. Franklin firemen were called to the rear of 349 Yandes Street at 6:04 p.m. Saturday where the garage fire was reported. The garage and contents were extensively damaged and a telephone cable was also damaged, firemen said. Firemen said the exact cause of the fire has not been determined. Whiteland’s rural fire department extinguished two separate grass and field fires Saturday. At 11:56 a.m. firemen were called to a fire at County Road 600 North (Tracy Road) and Road 25 West.

            Two hours later, volunteer firemen fought a large field fire off County Road 700 North, east of the Penn-Central railroad. Firemen said fire or sparks from a passing freight train started the fire. While extinguishing the wind swept field fire, firemen said a new fire truck was damaged when a rear wheel dropped into an open well in the middle of the field. Greenwood firemen reported one grass fire over the weekend and Nineveh firemen answered a fire call on Saturday. Franklin firemen, meanwhile, reported two other fire calls in the city. At 2:04 p.m. Sunday they were summoned to Betty’s luncheonette at the corner of Jefferson and Water Street downtown. Smoke from an incinerator backed up into the building, but there was no fire damage reported by firemen. At 5 p.m. Sunday firemen were called to the Earl Wilson service station, 49 East Monroe Street. Firemen washed down gasoline which leaked from a gasoline tank at the station. There was no fire.          (Reprinted with permission of the Daily Journal)

 

 

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