Blown transformer sparks Saturday afternoon grass fire near Riverfront Park
By MIKE KORDENBROCK mkordenbrock@billingsgazette.com
BILLINGS, MONTANA
A blown transformer sparked an acre-and-a-half to two-acre grass fire in a field near a Cherry Avenue trailer park on Saturday afternoon, but despite some access issues, the Billings Fire Department was able to quickly contain and extinguish the blaze, according to the battalion chief who led the effort.
"There's a line that runs south of the trailer court over there toward Riverfront Park," said Battalion Chief Brian Corneliusen. "That blew, and right below that is where the sparks landed and started the fire."
The fire was originally reported at about 3 p.m. in the area of Riverfront Park, causing some confusion among the first firefighters to respond, Corneliusen said. Those firefighters ended up cutting a lock to access a bridge off the east parking lot of Riverfront. Later firefighters went off the I-90 Frontage Road into the trailer park.
Fueled by tall grass and other vegetation, the fire was traveling east, but no structures were threatened Corneliusen said. Firefighters had the flames knocked down within 10 to 15 minutes of their arrival and the fire was contained shortly thereafter, according to Corneliusen.
Two engines and a brush truck were among the resources deployed. Deputies from the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office were also visible on the scene.