Map shows area of Tuesday morning fire
High winds turn brush fire into major blaze
Contributed By: The 411 News
Gary Fire Department calls in multiple agencies to extinguish Tuesday morning fire
The Gary Fire Department needed assistance from multiple agencies Tuesday morning after a brush fire turned into a major blaze on the city’s east side.
GFD Deputy Chief Mark Terry said the Gary Fire Department received a call, at 11:38am, for a brush fire in the area of east 15th Avenue and Clay Street. On the first company’s arrival, heavy brush fire conditions were reported on 15th Place west of the Gary Sanitary Lift Station.
Driven by winds out of the south and south-east gusting to 25 MPH, the fire jumped 15th place and affected the NIPSCo high tension towers and lines. Heavy smoke conditions also affected the toll road. Embers spread to the sand dunes behind the vacant Aetna Elementary School.
The total area affected is estimated to be 27 acres.
Additional assistance was requested to the scene with additional Gary Fire units and support staff.
Mutual aid assistance was received from the National Park Service, Lake Station and New Chicago Fire Departments and the Lake County Sheriff’s department aviation unit. Responding companies included a total of 6 engine companies, 3 Brush companies and 1 tanker.
The Lake County Sheriff Aviation unit provided numerous water drops. Water had to be shuttled to the scene, as the closest hydrants were 2000-3000 feet from the area of the fire.
The fire was contained by approximately 12:50pm, a little over 1 hour after arriving on the scene.
Deputy Chief Terry said extinguishing the fire was made more difficult with abandoned vehicles and piles of old tires burning.
A Gary firefighter was transported to Methodist Hospital with minor injuries due to heat stress and exhaustion. That firefighter is in stable condition.
The cause and origin of the fire is currently under investigation, Terry said.
Story Posted:04/17/2024
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