Large Brush Fire Monday Near Tolstoi

Three fire departments battled a large brush fire Monday near Tolstoi.

Barry Gushuliak, co-chief of the Emerson-Franklin Fire Department, says they got the alarm shortly after 1:00 p.m. for a location southwest of Tolstoi. He adds the blaze was endangering properties along Highway #59. Gushuliak says it covered three to four hundred acres of grass and brush and was spreading very fast, and in an area that was accessible only by all-terrain vehicles.

The St. Malo and Vita Fire Departments were called in for assistance.

Gushuliak says 40-50 firefighters battled the flames until almost 7:00 p.m. He adds they did an amazing job and damage to property was limited to some fence posts.

He says the fire was caused by the exhaust system of the property owner's car.

According to Gushuliak, one firefighter sustained minor burns to his face and hand but did not require hospitalization.