Firefighters keep busy, drought to blame

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The Lafayette Fire Department had almost four times as many calls this summer compared to last.

Tippecanoe County remains in a state of moderate drought, even with the recent rains. 

Since March 1, NewsChannel 18 has measured 17 and 1/2 inches of rain. But 9 inches, or more than half of the total amount, has fallen just in the last month.

This means for the first time in months, firefighters can breathe just a little bit easier.

"Because of the rain we're getting, there's not the potential for ground fires that we've had," said Lafayette Fire Chief, Richard Doyle.

Doyle said between June and August, the fire department responded to 66 grass, dumpster or other outside fires. 

It's a rate of more than four a week and four times higher than last year's 17 fires. 

Doyle said there's one big reason for the 388-percentage-point increase: the drought.

"I've been with the Lafayette Fire department for 28 years and this is the longest drought I've ever seen," said Doyle.

A further examination of the numbers helps tell the story. 

This year, there were 14 grass fire,s which is more than two times the six in 2011. 

Firefighters responded to 12 outside-waste fires, compared to seven last year. 

With 30 dumpster and other trash fires, there were ten times more than last year's three. 

There were ten fires in the special outside category and one even led to something more serious.

"An outside mulch fire that got into a house. We were actually mutually responding with Sheffield's Volunteer Fire Department," said Doyle.

Doyle's thankful there weren't any more. 

He attributes much of that to residents cooperating with the fireworks ban and burn bans. If they hadn't, as high as 66 seems, it could have been worse.

Doyle said the fire department is preparing for another dry season.

Fall is just around the corner and that means dry leaves will cover the ground and bonfires will be blazing.

He asks everybody to remember -- safety comes first.