A small yard waste burn in south Emporia turned into an educational experience for one resident Tuesday.
Initially, the call to the Southgate trailer park complex at 1601 West South was for a structure fire. However, Emporia Fire Battalion Chief Rich Gould says the fire was actually an illegal yard waste burn near a trailer. The resident, currently unnamed, was putting the fire out when crews arrived shortly after 4:30 pm.
Gould says there was a language barrier between firefighters and the resident, but crews on site determined the woman did not know the city’s controlled burn procedure. The city allows small controlled burns, but they have to be for yard waste only. These burns must be at least 50 feet from any structure and the fire must be attended until it is extinguished. Wind speeds also must be 15 mph or less while the burn takes place.
No injuries or structural damage was reported.
5:15 pm Tuesday: Details pending after reported structure fire turns out to be illegal burn
A reported structure fire at a local mobile home park turned out to be something else entirely.
Fire crews were called out to the Southgate Mobile Home Park at 1601 West South Avenue shortly before 4:30 pm Tuesday afternoon for a reported structure fire. Upon arriving fire crews learned smoke was coming from an illegal burn between two of the trailers.
Information on any injuries and a damage assessment are currently pending. Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for more updates.
