UPDATE: Ditch Fire Spread Through Ames Ada Hayden Park Sunday

A large grass fire that burned into almost damaged a shed and surrounding shelters Sunday, but a group of firefighters were able to prevent that.

A field fire began in the ditch on Grant Avenue, running along the park's west side, and jumped the fence into Ada Hayden Heritage Park, just after 1 p.m. said Gilbert Fire Chief Don Adams. Adams said the fire was technically within District territory and firefighters from both departments responded. Story City firefighters also assisted.

The fire went into the park's wetlands area and also spread northeast and up hill burning about 60 acres of grass and brush, which sent a thick white plume of smoke into the air, Adams said.

“It burned clear down to the ground,” he said.

Paul Sandoval, Ames deputy fire chief, said several acres were involved in the fire, which burned through fields and some brush but didn't appear to damage any property. At one point the fire neared a shed. But firefighters wetted the grass around it and shelter sites to prevent damage.

“It was just time consuming is all it was,” Adams said.

Firefighters were on the scene for about two hours.

Some photos of the fire have been posted to a blog you can see here.

Adams said rural Story County firefighters have been fighting grass fires for the past week.

Adams said that someone probably threw a match or something hot in the ditch, causing the most recent blaze.

“It looked like careless use of a match,” Adams said. “The grass is really dry right now.”

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