A bushfire leads to a four-day battle | News, Sports, Work

Firefighters from 13 departments battled the blaze on Malone Road in Salineville for four days. (Photo by Christy R. Garabrandt)

SALINVILLE. Over the weekend, firefighters continued to battle a brush fire that started early Wednesday morning at 20410 Malone Road.

About 12 acres of land were burned, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

Almost 60 firefighters from nine divisions and ODNR brigades tried to control the fire for 13 hours on Wednesday. The Salineville Fire Department returned to the scene Thursday to find the flames.

On Sunday, numerous departments are working for the fourth day due to the resumption of the fire.

Wind, dry leaves and peat moss, as well as the location of the fire and the topography of the area made it difficult to control the fire.

Because the fire was burning in a ravine, access to fire engines and typical firefighting equipment was limited. Firefighters and equipment were brought to the scene by on-board and utility vehicles.

According to ODNR Fernwood State Forestry Manager Ryan Zeisler, the fire was deep in the forest, making access difficult for crews with water and tools. On Saturday evening, he said that the fire had been brought under control. He also noted that the fire was burning underground. On Saturday evening, it rose from the ground and began to burn again.

Firefighters, some of whom were at the scene for more than 22 hours, were called out at around 8pm on Saturday night. At approximately 2:00 a.m., Fire Chief Jeremiah Cole (Highlandtown Volunteer Fire Department and fire commander) sent some firefighters home to rest to return in the morning. Firefighters from the Highlandtown and Wellsville Volunteer Fire Departments remained on the scene throughout the night.

It took 58 firefighters from 13 fire departments in two counties, as well as two crews and a forest manager from the ODNR Forestry Division, to bring the fire under control.

Responding departments included Highlandtown, Salineville, Franklin Township, Wellsville, West Point, Glenmoore, Irondale, Liverpool Township, East Palestine, Fox Township, Pottery Addition, Stratton, Empire and Bergholtz.

The Federal District of East Palestine provided a drone so firefighters could get an aerial view of what they encountered.

Zeisler said he and Cole discussed whether to use a direct attack with hand lines and wet lines or use an indirect attack with a wide perimeter and hope for the best.

They chose an indirect method and placed a wide fire break, known as bulldozer lines, around the entire perimeter of the burn area. Bulldozer lines are wide paths that have been cleared of grass or anything else down to bare soil, preventing the fire from continuing to burn.

“Our chances of a fire if something starts up again should be low, especially given that the winds won’t be near 15 mph like they were yesterday.” said Zeisler.

He highlighted all the assistance and reliable extinguishing of the fire by the response units, which were busy on Saturday to repair the fire breaks.

The exact cause of the fire is unknown. Any further investigation will be conducted by ODNR law enforcement officers.

A potential investigation could take place. Zeisler and Cole want everyone to be aware of the current statewide burn ban.

“We haven’t had rain in a very long time, and the entire state of Ohio has been in a drought for the last three months,” said Zeisler.

He also noted that with low relative humidity, leaves, grass and trees lack moisture, and this, along with strong winds, played a role in the fire.

Zeisler said this has been a busy week for all fire departments across the state due to the drought. ODNR provides assistance to other fire departments in eliminating bush fires. On Saturday, they were at a 30-acre fire in Jefferson County near Smithfield working to establish a containment line.

A West Virginia television station reported that burn bans are in place immediately in many West Virginia counties due to brush fires in Hancock, Washington and Jefferson counties, and West Virginia departments are responding.

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