AURORA — An early morning fire on April 2 destroyed a barn southeast of Aurora, but no injuries were reported, and no animals were harmed.
The blaze was reported at 4:25 a.m. at 21531 480th Ave. The barn, on property owned by Doug Stein, was used primarily to store small equipment and vehicles, according to an April 2 news release from the Brookings County Sheriff’s Office.
“Stein reported he was awakened by noise outside and discovered the barn fully engulfed in flames,” Assistant Sheriff Dave Biteler wrote. “Dispatch notified the Aurora Fire Department, which requested mutual aid from all Brookings County fire departments.”
He said that, while the fire was contained to the immediate area of the barn, it did also destroy a vehicle and nearby propane tank. Firefighters were at the scene for roughly three hours, and a damage estimate wasn’t yet available.
Responding agencies included all Brookings County fire departments — Aurora, Brookings, Bruce, Elkton, Sinai, White and Volga — Brookings Ambulance and the South Dakota Fire Marshal’s Office.
Brookings-area grass fire
Firefighters were busy on April 1, too, responding to and helping to extinguish a grass fire a few miles south of Brookings.
The call came in at 1:14 p.m. from 47230 219th Street, Biteler wrote in an April 2 news release, and involved a burn barrel near a residence.
“The property resident, Keaton Peterson, reported that a burn barrel had tipped over and re-ignited, allowing embers to spread into nearby brush and a tree line,” Biteler wrote. “Peterson indicated the burn barrel had last been used approximately four (to) five days prior.”
Biteler noted that the fire was quickly contained by the Brookings Fire Department with Peterson’s assistance.
“It was determined that a combination of the tipped barrel and wind conditions contributed to the fire’s spread,” Biteler wrote.
He added that there were no injuries, and no dollar amount regarding damage was identified.
— Contact Mondell Keck at [email protected].
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