String of fires raises concern for Lind fire crews

The Lind Fire Department responded to assist Othello Fire Department with a haystack fire, before being paged to a standing grain fire during the evening hours on Thursday, July 25. Lind Fire Department Chief Kevin Starring explained that while the duo of fires kept the department busy, it also raised concern for potential arson as the amount of fires that began during the evening hours throughout the surrounding areas.

Lind Fire crews responded to provide assistance to the Othello crews for a haystack fire at Cunningham and Irving roads around 9 p.m. on Thursday. The Lind department provided standby assistance for the Othello department throughout the evening, with multiple Lind firefighters not leaving until daybreak.

While on standby for the haystack fire, the Lind department was toned out to a standing grain fire near Johnson Road and Highway 26. Starring said the department was fortunate to have a truck parked nearby that was able to contain the fire until crews arrived. Starring estimated the fire consumed around 10 acres of wheat.

Starring explained that while crews were stationed at the haystack fire, the Othello department responded to two more fire calls along Booker Road and the Connell department recorded four fires in their district. Starring said the estimated eight fires in a six-hour period has caused concern for the local departments. The local departments are currently working with local law enforcement to discover if the fires could be connected, and the cause of the fires still remains unknown.