SALEM – A cleanup operation for an old farmhouse near Salem went awry Monday as flames spread to the Delmer Hullman house.

Mark Bashus said Hullman has not lived at the house since January. Bashus was cleaning up the grounds when a 17-mph wind pushed a debris fire to the dry grass near the house.

Bashus said he tried to put the fire out with a garden hose, but burning grass melted the hose. He went to a neighboring place to call the fire department.

 

Falls City Rural Fire Chief Mike Ramsey said both Verdon and Falls City units were dispatched.

Ramsey: “Upon arrival the house was completely involved. Basically we just did fire protection. We suppressed what we could and kept it from spreading.”

Ramsey encourages residents to be aware of their surroundings when burning materials. With humidity dipping below 30 percent, he said it is hit-or-miss regarding burning permits. No burn permit was issued for the fire Monday.

Ramsey: “The biggest thing is, I can not give you a permit to burn anything other than natural vegetation. You can’t burn and clean up an area.”