The lack of rain in our area indirectly contributed to a pair of weekend fires in Algoma. 

The first occurred Saturday at 12:45 p.m. to a grass fire near Washington Road and Ash Drive intersection in the Town of Ahnapee. Upon arrival, Algoma Fire Chief Tom Ackerman says the decision was made to call for mutual aid from Southern Door, Kewaunee, Luxemburg, and Casco because of the size of the fire. The fire spread to a nearby swamp where the flames were fed with matted cattails and other vegetation, which made the blaze even harder to fight. In addition to the responding fire department, Ackerman credited a local farmer for his help.

No cause of the fire has been determined, and Ackerman says it remains under investigation. Four firefighters were treated on-site for heat exhaustion, and another was treated at an area hospital for dehydration. The department was back in service at 6 p.m. The department was called out again for a fire in a recently harvested wheat field on Sunday afternoon. Algoma firefighters reported to the area near State Highway 54 and Birch Drive at around 2:30 p.m. to the field where some of the stubble from the harvested wheat field ignited. The fire burned about an acre of land before firefighters could defeat the blaze after approximately an hour. Ackerman reminds residents and visitors to practice extra caution due to the lack of rain the area has received in recent weeks.