Grass, hay fires aided by summer heat

The summer dry season has arrived right on schedule, and with it comes the usual round of grass and hay fires.

A trailer loaded with hay, owned by Venson Hawkins, of Wartrace, caught fire at the intersection of Highway 64 East and Lee Road on Saturday afternoon, Volunteer Fire Services Inc. reported.

"That one caused quite a bit of damage," VFSI Chief Mark Thomas said.

Another blaze broke out in brush at 314 Naron Road, just south of Shelbyville, on Sunday afternoon, Thomas said.

"It's just the dry weather," Thomas said.

"We just need people to be extra careful with July 4 coming up. People need to have a hose pipe nearby and wet the ground before they start shooting fireworks."