MARION COUNTY — The first of Saturday back-to-back fire calls started when an arcing power line dropped sparks into the dry stubble of a wheat field south of Patoka, setting 10 to 15 acres ablaze.

The call for the fire at Wisher and Bolen roads came in around noon, with firefighters stopping the flames within 100 feet of a home.

Sandoval and Odin firefighters provided mutual aid assistance.

While firefighters were containing that fire, another wheat stubble fire was reported on Fairman Road just north of Sandoval.

A farmer was reportedly bailing straw when a hot bearing set fire to part of the field. The farmer was able to move the equipment away from the fire but approximately five acres of stubble burned.

Huey-Boulder-Ferrin, Odin, Centralia Fire Protection District, and Patoka firefighters provided Sandoval with mutual aid on that call.

When Huey-Boulder-Ferrin were heading back to their station, they found a small shed engulfed in flames on Wortman Road northeast of Sandoval.
The 10 by 20-foot building had already collapsed upon their arrival. A burn barrel fire is being blamed for the fire.

In addition to Huey-Boulder-Ferrin, Centralia City firefighters provided Sandoval mutual aid at the scene of that fire.

Salem and Odin responded to the Sandoval Fire Station in the event of another call.