Fire burns acre of dunes near Lake Hills school

Sat, Jul 4, 2009    to del.icio.us

SPRING LAKE TOWNSHIP — Two juveniles playing with a lighter accidentally started a fire that ended up burning about an acre of duneland late Friday afternoon near Lake Hills Elementary School, said Lt. Brian Sipe of the Spring Lake Township Fire Department.

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Sipe said the children tried to put out the fire, but it spread because of a breeze and the dry conditions.

Fortunately, a family flying kites at the school saw the fire and quickly called 911, Sipe said. The family's fast response allowed firefighters to get on the scene and control the blaze before it spread into a stand of tall, dry pine trees.

"It's a good thing the wind was coming from the west, otherwise it could have been a problem," Sipe said.

The breeze helped contain the blaze in a gully near the school, and kept it from going toward the school, he added.

Firefighters from Ferrysburg assisted at the scene. The Grand Haven Department of Public Safety also assisted with its all-terrain vehicle.

Crews were on the scene for about an hour.