WINDSOR, Ohio — Departments from three different counties battled a large brush fire near the Ashtabula County-Geauga County border.
Windsor Fire Department officials provided an update on Saturday saying that crews finished up at the fire at around 4:30 a.m.
Officials have not indicated how the fire started, but do confirm the blaze broke out in the area of the 4300 block of U.S. Route 322 in Windsor Township, with first responders getting to the area around 3 p.m. According to the Windsor Fire Department, roughly 50 acres had already burned on Friday.
The fire comes as the region has gone about two weeks without any rain, and scorching hot temperatures have led to drought-like conditions. There were also no hydrants near the burn, meaning crews were forced to use water from a nearby pond.
Members of 30 departments came to the scene. State officials are also assisting with the situation.
"A brush fire will rapidly become something more," Windsor Assistant Fire Chief Callie Mallory warned, noting buildings could be at risk. "There's a lot of high wind that's driving it, so you have to worry about the safety if you're a fireman, at that point."
With conditions very dry right now, authorities are asking residents not to burn anything if they don't absolutely need to.
"DO NOT OPEN BURN," Windsor fire declared on its Facebook page. "We have no rain for extended periods coming up."