All three fires caused by dumping ashes
by Leah Justice
leah.justice@tryondailybulletin.com
Area fire departments are urging residents to use caution when disposing of ashes from
fireplaces and wood stoves after responding to three brush fires within Polk County on
Monday, Jan. 19.
The Tryon Fire Department was dispatched at 3:37 p.m. Monday to the area of Grey Fox
Road and Vintage Road in the Many Levels subdivision of Hunting Country Road. Tryon
Fire Chief Joey Davis said the original call was for a smoke investigation.
Upon arrival, battalion chief Geoffrey Tennant reported a brush/woods fire that was
threatening two residences at the end of Vintage Lane.
The fire burned approximately two and ½ acres with two structures saved. There was
minor fire damage to one structure, Davis said.
Tryon received aid from the N.C. Forest Service, the Columbus Fire Department, Saluda
Fire Department, Green Creek Fire Department and the Tryon Police Department.
Davis said the fire was determined to have been caused by dumped ashes, reportedly
dumped by a resident on Friday, Jan. 16. Davis said high winds appear to have stirred up
the hot embers.
Also on Monday, Saluda Fire and Rescue encountered two similar situations of brush
fires caused by hot ashes. Saluda fire officials said both fires came dangerously close to
catching the homes on fire.
Tryon and Columbus fire departments provided mutual aid to the Saluda brush fires.
Also on Monday the Landrum Fire Department responded to a house fire at the same
time of Tryon’s brush fire, according to reports.