(ETHRIDGE) -- SHELBY VOLUNTEER FIRE CHIEF RON BUCK TOLD KSEN NEWS THAT AS OF

8 O’CLOCK FRI. NIGHT A MAJOR GROUND FIRE NEAR ETHRIDGE, BETWEEN CUT BANK AND

SHELBY HAD BEEN 100-PERCENT CONTAINED.

                THE FIRE STARTED LATE AFTERNOON FRI FROM A SWATHER AND QUICKLY SPREAD

FROM WEST TO EAST WITH GUSTY WINDS THAT BUCK SAID, “KEPT SWITCHING ON US.”

                THE FIRE QUICKLY CONSUMED OVER 38-HUNDRED ACRES OF C-R-P AND CROPLAND

AND ALSO TOOK OUT 4 HOG FARROWING BUILDINGS AND A GRAIN MILL BUT NO RESIDENTIAL

STRUCTURES.

                IN ALL, THE FIRE COVERED 4.7 MILES ALONG THE LONGCAKE AND WEIGAND ROAD,

NORTH OF U-S TWO.

                BUCK EXTENDED A BIG THANK YOU TO FIREFIGHTERS FROM SHELBY, SUNBURST, COUTTS,

CUT BANK, VALIER AND CONRAD.   HE SAID NUMEROUS HUTTERITE COLONIES AND LOCAL FARMERS ASSISTED WITH

HAULING WATER AND TO BE HONEST, BUCK SAID “I DON’T KNOW WHAT WE WOULD HAVE DONE

WITHOUT THEM.”

                TORGERSONS INC. GOT A TRACTOR AFTER THE FIRE TO HELP CREATE FIRE LINE TRENCHES

AND CENEX HARVEST STATES ASSISTED WITH HAULING WATER.

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