MOUNT VERNON — A fire in heavy brush and grass burned over three to four acres in the dike area behind the American National Can plant Tuesday afternoon. Mount Vernon Fire Chief Shawn Christy said the department was initially dispatched at 3:57 p.m. to Riverside Park, but when firefighters arrived, they realized the fire was farther upstream.
Firefighters had to backtrack, he said, and it took a little time to get to the scene. Because the fire was between the dike and the river, fire personnel were not able to get the trucks close to the fire. They called on the Fredericktown Community Fire Department for a grass truck, which responded with three firefighters. Christy said his firefighters cut a hole in the fence along the dike and ran a water hose from the engines to replenish water to the grass truck.
The department sent two engines and 13 firefighters to the blaze. Christy said he doesn’t know what started the fire, but fishermen and dirt bike riders use the area.
As firefighters left the scene, they were dispatched to a fire at 1750 Old Delaware Road, where a small shed was on fire at Hawk’s Plumbing.
The shed was in close proximity to a larger building, but Christy said firefighters contained the fire without further damage. The ladder truck and two engines were dispatched to the fire, along with 11 firefighters.
Christy said the Old Delaware Road fire was quickly followed by a grass fire at Foundation Park that was put out without any damage. Christy said the fire was possibly started by young people playing with lighters.
