Firefighters, with the help of some rain, finished up battling a five+ hour, 30-acre brush fire late Saturday night along Demory Road.

Just before 5 pm Saturday, crews from the Campbell County Rural Fire Service, La Follette and Caryville Fire Departments along with the Forestry Service answered the fire call at Demory Road and Chaniott’s Grocery.

CCRFS Assistant Fire Chief Daniel Lawson said, “Someone was burning brush, and the wind caused the fire to get out of control.”

Firefighters additionally kept a few homes out of danger, and there were no injuries reported.

Saturday’s high winds  added to the firefighters’ challenges.  It also blew smoke and ash far from the area of the fire.

According to the Tennessee Division of Forestry, from October 15 through May 15, anyone starting an open-air fire within 500 feet of a forest, grassland, or woodland must by law secure a burning permit from the Division of Forestry.

Lawson adds, “Always get a burn permit when required.  When planning to burn, you need to clear the area around where you are burning.  Always have a water hose and rake with you and watch for changing weather especially if it becomes windy.  Do not burn on windy days.  And never ever leave a fire unattended.”

(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 03/31/2019-9AM – PHOTO COURTESY OF CFD FIRE CHIEF EDDIE HATMAKER)