(Atlantic & Southwest Iowa) – Numerous area fire departments were kept busy Wednesday, battling ditch, grass or field fires. Locally, the Atlantic Fire Department responded to two grass fires on Wednesday. Fire Chief Tom Cappel says one of the fires crews from Atlantic fought, occurred early Wednesday afternoon in the area of 644th Street and Jackson Road.The blaze erupted from a brush pile.

A second fire was reported later that afternoon west of the Atlantic Airport, off of Highland Road. That blaze began as a controlled burn of prairie grass, but grew out of control as the result of strong southerly winds that caused flames to jump the road and ignite a nearby farm field.

Chief Cappel issued a reminder to residents who may be planning a controlled burn, to notify their local fire department beforehand.

Earlier in the day, the Atlantic Fire Department conducted its own controlled burn at the Schildberg Recreation Area.

Elsewhere in southwest Iowa, the Creston Fire Department, with mutual aid provided by six other area departments, battled controlled burn that got out of hand at around 2:30-p.m. Wednesday, northwest of Creston. The flames spread to one shed and threatened another.  A large junk pile behind that structure was fully engulfed in flames. Altogether, about 400-acres was scorched in the blaze.

Other fires were reported late Wednesday afternoon along the interstate in Cass and Adair Counties. Red Oak Fire were battle two fires when they were called to the scene of a car engulfed in flames at around 4-p.m. Wednesday. There were no injuries, but the car was a total loss.