Brush Fire Moves Close To Homes

Alabama Mobile Wind and dry weather contribute to fire in Dawes.

by Steve Alexander

Published: Wed, February 25, 2009 - 10:15 pm CST Last Updated: Wed, February 25, 2009 - 10:33 pm CST

There were some anxious moments for people living in the Dawes community Wednesday afternoon.
A brush fire moved within a few yards of their homes.
The fire broke out near the McCovery Road Extension and McLeod Road.
Tirey Banks said he saw the blaze behind his mobile home and called 9-1-1.
He said, "I told them there was a big fire behind my house."
Tirey's father, Tyrone Pogue, said he didn't know about the fire until his children called him.
Pogue said, "I was at work and my kids called and said 'Dad, the fire was getting close to the house.' "
Walter Alexander told News Five the fire came about ten feet from his home.
Kenneth Leslie with the Alabama Forestry Commission said the blaze broke out in an old gravel pit.
He also said, "I'm assuming someone started it. We haven't investigated, but that's what it looks like. From there, the winds picked up coming from the south and southeast and it just spread from there."
When asked if dry weather was a factor, Chief James Shelly with the Theodore-Tillman's Corner Volunteer Fire Department said, "(It's a) real big factor. And (so is) all the dead stuff from all the way back from the hurricane."
Fire fighters put the blaze out in over an hour.
But it turned out to be a long day for Tirey, his father and others.
Tyrone Pogue said the situation was scary because his children "were at home by themselves and I was just rushing to get here just to check on them."
When asked if he was scared, Tirey Banks said, "Pretty much."
Forestry officials said brush fires are picking up and conditions for them are getting right.

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