Beech Grove Volunteer Fire Department discourages burning

BEECH GROVE — At 8:29 p.m. Tuesday, the Beech Grove Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a reported grass fire along County Road 140.

Firefighters arrived about eight minutes later to find a rapidly spreading woods fire. The blaze was attacked using two brush trucks and was brought under control in roughly 20 minutes.

At the time, weather conditions included 79% relative humidity, no wind, and an air temperature of 73 degrees. Despite those mild conditions, officials noted the area remains extremely dry.

“It is not normal for a fire of this type to intensify so quickly under these conditions,” a department spokesperson said. “Although we are not under a burn ban, we strongly discourage any outdoor burning until we receive significant rainfall.”

The cause of the fire remains under investigation but is considered suspicious. Beech Grove VFD responded with Brush 11, Brush 12, and eight firefighters.