Fire burns near Culbertson

Fire burned about 160 acres of grassland Saturday, about one mile west of Culbertson, Mont. Volunteer firefighters from three agencies remained at the scene for eight hours.

Some 25 firefighters and 11 trucks were called to the scene around 11:30 a.m. (MDT), according to Robert Jasper, assistant fire chief for Culbertson.

"It was sparked from a metal-cutting torch," said Jasper.

Volunteers from Culbertson, Froid and Bainville, Mont. responded to the call. Farmers pooled together against the blaze with tractors and other farm equipment. The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation also assisted.

"It was windy, and it was all grassland, but it was tall grassland that hadn't been hayed yet," he said. "The fire jumped railroad track."

No injuries were reported, but Jasper said the fire did come within one-quarter mile of two homes. "If the wind was going in another direction, it could have been bad," he said of the structures.

Culbertson's tanker truck was used several times throughout to refill the trucks.

Volunteers remained at the scene fighting the fire and mopping up the hot spots until 8:30 p.m. Saturday.