AURORA | Two nearly simultaneous brushfires in Aurora open-space areas were blamed on dry vegetation, low humidity and gusty winds yesterday afternoon.
There were no injuries nor damage to buildings reported from either blaze, according to fire officials.
One fire was reported at 3:15 p.m. inside the Jewell Wetlands park in west Aurora, adjacent to I-225.
“Large flames were widely visible as fire spread through trees and grass,” Aurora Fire and Rescue spokesperson Dawn Small said in a statement.
Dormant and dead trees, some still filled with dead leaves, created a burning overhead threat to firefighters.
“Additionally, shifting winds and gusts caused the fire to turn in several different directions and spark spot fires during the suppression efforts,” Small said.
The fire was contained after burning about 2 acres.
Minutes after the Jewell Wetlands blaze was reported, a fire in the open space near a neighborhood on the 8000 block of South Kewanee Street was called in.
“A wind-driven grass fire spread to approximately 2-3 acres, dangerously close to numerous homes before it was contained,” Small said. “One resident reported seeing large flames from her backyard, and another said the fire was spreading fast behind her house.”
Smoke could be clearly seen from both fires along the I-225 corridor, witnesses said.
“It took approximately 30 minutes to stop forward progress of both fires,”
The cause of both fires remains under investigation.