WINNEMUCCA — The Winnemucca Rural Fire Department responded to a call for mutual aid from the Grass Valley - Pershing County Volunteer Fire Department, who needed some extra help putting out a brush fire that threatened homes and a church.  Firefighters were dispatched at about 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday (Jan. 4).

According to Assist. Fire Chief Torrey Sheen, it appeared as though embers from a controlled burn were blown into nearby brush.

It didn’t take long for firefighters to extinguish the blaze, which occurred about a mile from the county line.

Sheen reminded residents to be cautious with controlled burns as the brush is dry.

The best time to burn weeds is generally in the early morning before the winds pick up.  Also, it’s always a good idea to have a garden hose on hand during controlled burns – just in case.

Residents are required to report controlled burns to the Humboldt County Dispatch Center 623-6429.