Fire Watch

Firefighters battle 50 acre wheat field fire in Cascade Co.

Posted: Jul 28, 2012 8:04 PM by Tara Grimes - MTN News

GREAT FALLS- Several agencies responded to a wheat field fire east of Great Falls just after 4 p.m. on Saturday.

A Montana Highway Patrol Trooper says he was on Highwood Road near mile marker 9 when he noticed a fire start in back of a combine.

He alerted the combine operator, and when they managed to put one fire out, another fire started and began to spread.

The Highwood Rural Fire Department, Sand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department, Black Eagle Volunteer Fire Department, and Belt Rural Fire Department all responded to the fire.

Belt Rural Fire Department Captain Trevor Johnson said these agencies were called in to help because it wasn't clear how fast and far the fire would spread.

Heat and wind made it difficult to battle, but firefighters were able to put it out quickly. It was a two alarm fire.

Officials estimate the fire scorched 50 to 60 acres of land.