Hot tracks ignite sparks, brush fires

A number of large brush fires broke out Thursday afternoon along Route 13 in Fruitland.  The fires plagued the highway for about a quarter of a mile, and we're told this was a perfect storm of conditions for this to happen.

Officials say the warm and dry conditions were perfect for the sparks from the hot train tracks to ignite and burn the brush around them.

ive fire companies came out to handle the fires, was put out in about an hour and a half.

"I saw a huge cloud of smoke and everything, and I saw, eventually I got down there where Crown's Sports Center is, and they cut everything off, the whole road was blocked off so I had to detour," said Fruitland resident Joey Tingle.

"We did have spot fires extending from Cedar Lane where the Hampton Inn is down 13, about halfway down to Crown Rd," said Jason Press, engineer with the Fruitland Fire Department.

We asked what ways brush fires like these can be avoided, officials say locals can do their part by being mindful of their surroundings.

Press says he feels the fire threat in the area right now is, "high," so people should use caution when disposing of cigarette butts, or burning at home.