Field fire shuts down I-65

Dayton, Ind. (WLFI) - A field fire caused Interstate 65 and State Road 38 to shut down Monday.

The Sheffield Township Fire Department was called to a field fire next to the exit ramp for the northbound lanes of 65 to 38.  Lafayette crews were, then, called to the fire as back-up.

Fire crews were on the scene for approximately an hour putting out the fire.  During that time, all lanes of I-65 and 38 were shut down for about thirty minutes while crews battled the flames.

"It could be a cigarette thrown out the window, it could be a hot piece of rubber of a semi tire, it could be someone with a hot catalytic converter pulled over to stop for a few minutes.  It could have multiple causes," Sheffield Fire Chief Bill Huffer said.  "It's dry and getting drier, and it's going to spread fast in these winds. There's no humidity to help keep it slow.  It's almost going to be like a forest fire in the west, except it's going to be grass for us."

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

No injuries were reported and about one acre of grass was burned.