A brush pile south of Cortez caught on fire Monday morning, Assistant Fire Chief Shawn Bittle said.
Fire crews responded about 5:30 a.m. to South Oak Street between Road G.15 and Road H, Bittle said. They were fighting the fire until about 9:40 a.m., he said.
There were no injuries, no damage to any structures, and the fire was contained to the area of origin, Bittle said. It was in a wood and brush area where people had been dumping yard clippings.
The brush pile was not near any electric or gas service lines, so it possibly started with hot ashes, Bittle said.
“Please be careful disposing of your ash from chimneys, fireplaces and pellet stoves,” Bittle said. “Make sure they’re 100 percent cool. The best way to do that is to put them in a metal bucket and put it outside on a non-combustible surface away from any structures. Allow them to cool for three to four days.”
