News : Shellsburg-Canton Fire Department performs controlled burns

Canton-Benton-Shellsburg Fire Department conducted a controlled burn on Monday evening

If you saw smoke on Monday evening, there was a fire. However, it was a fire started by the Canton-Benton-Shellsburg Fire Department, The department was conducting controlled burns north of Shellsburg. 

Denny Gardemann, Fire Chief in Shellsburg explained that there are property owners that contact the department to do controlled burns. He said that "typically it's CRP ground that the landowner is required by the government to burn every so many years. We also have property owners that have ditches or grassy areas they want to be burned so we burn them."

In return for the service, landowners make a donation to the fire department which helps with funding for gear, tools, equipment as well as assisting the public whenever they are in a time of need.

Monday morning, an area property owner did start a burn on his own, which soon became out of control, so the department responded to that call finishing up by mid-afternoon. Then when it was calm, the same guys from the department went out on their own time to help community members burn their CRP ground. "Pretty selfless individuals to be exhausted and still go help others. It's just what we do though!" Gardemann said. "Without these VOLUNTEERS who are not compensated in any sort of way, there would be a lot more loss to life and property."

Keep your fire departments in mind when you get the crazy idea to do a large burn on your own. The area departments are more than happy to take care of it for you by simply contacting them to do so. 

Thanks to all of our fire departments out there for all that you do for the rest of us!