UPDATE: Cold, dry weather mixed with high winds created a tinderbox in western Kentucky this weekend.
Firemen were busy all day Saturday fighting field fires in Marion, near Smithland, between Tolu and Salem and near Eddyville.
Firemen from Crittenden County and Tolu were dispatched to the brush fire on Ky. 838 at midday.
Later, four fire departments (Mattoon, Marion, Shady Grove and Crittenden County) battled a grass fire that threatened several homes and destroyed an outbuilding and other property in the city limits of Marion between U.S. 641 and Hillcrest Subdivision above it. Pictures above right is a barn that was destroyed by the blaze. The photo was taken by a neighbor, Dennis Walker, and submitted online.
After frigid temperatures that reached zero in some places late last week, the warmup has begun in Crittenden County. Despite warmer temps, in the high 30s Saturday, brisk winds continued gusting between 25-30 mph on Saturday, creating fire hazards.
Weekend lows were predicted in the mid 20s and next week highs will be in the upper 40s.
