Jess Aloe

Free Press Staff Writer

SOUTH BURLINGTON - Firefighters have contained a brush fire near 1201 Spear St. in South Burlington.

Homeowner Randy Miller called in the fire at about 1:30 p.m. Saturday. He said flames were up to five feet high in the nearby woods.

Captain Craig Rounds, the South Burlington shift captain, said when firefighters arrived, an area the size of a football field was burning. This time of year carries a high fire risk, he said. Strong winds also helped the blaze grow.

Firefighters first worked to stop the fire from reaching nearby homes, and then created a "fire line" to stop the flames from spreading. After the fire was contained, they cut down any trees that had burned to prevent a new flareup, Rounds said.

Resources came from South Burlington, Colchester, Burlington, and the Vermont National Guard, who brought trucks capable of travelling through the wooded area.

Rounds estimated about thirty people were on the scene of the fire.

Miller reported dry conditions earlier today at the scene of the fire. The National Weather Service in South Burlington reports this is peak season for brush fires due to dry conditions and the presence of dry grass, leaves and twigs. Vermont's Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation's website said the fire danger for Saturday was high.

Rounds said he was not issuing burn permits today because of the conditions. Vermont posts fire danger forecasts on a website run by the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.

Officials had not determined the cause of the fire as of late Saturday afternoon. An investigation is underway.

Contact Jess Aloe at 802-660-1874 or jaloe@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jess_aloe