Area departments respond to fires in Ethan, Presho, Reliance

ETHAN-Area fire departments were put to the test Monday afternoon, as firefighters responded to three separate fires near Ethan, Presho and Reliance.

In Ethan, a rock caught in the blades of a manure spreader is suspected to have caused sparks that caught a field of wheat stubble on fire, burning about 15 acres, according to Fire Chief Dan Pollreisz.

"It's just that dry out," Pollreisz said. "It takes nothing to start a fire right now."

Fifteen Ethan firefighters responded to the blaze at about 4:30 p.m. near the intersection of 264th Street and 405th Avenue, or about 6 miles west and 1 mile north of town.

Officials were on scene for an hour and a half fighting the blaze.

"Really, the thing that really helped us, that really got the fire under control, was that farmers had discs hooked up, ready to go," Pollreisz said. "Area fire departments are going to need help, and we get it all the time. But, from now until the fall when they start combining, we really count on farmers to have discs going to help us out."

Assistant Fire Chief Ron Miiller said there were no injuries and no structures were damaged.

Presho Fire Chief Donny Manger confirmed the Presho Fire Department responded to a blaze north of town, with several area departments on scene assisting. Manger told The Daily Republic at 9 p.m. that the blaze had been completely contained.

While crews were finishing working the scene, a third fire sparked between Kennebec and Reliance.

According to officials, several area departments were on scene, including several that also responded to the Presho fire. The Lower Brule, Kennebec, Presho, Reliance and Winner fire departments were on scene, and possibly others.

Manger said the third fire had also been contained and crews were completing clean-up around 9 p.m.

1/3: The Ethan Fire Department responds to a wheat field that caught fire on Monday afternoon on the southwest corner of the 264 street and 405th avenue intersection west of Ethan. (Matt Gade/Republic)

2/3: Photo courtesy of the Lyman County Sheriff's Office)

3/3: The Ethan Fire Department responds to a wheat field that caught fire on Monday afternoon on the southwest corner of the 264 street and 405th avenue intersection west of Ethan. (Matt Gade/Republic)