Post & Mail photo/Chris Meyers


A resident of Plattner Road fights back the flames with a shovel as they steadily approach the side of his house in a recent backyard fire that got out of control. Richland and Columbia  responded Wednesday afternoon to the 4000 block of Plattner Road on a report of a field fire. Firefighters from Richland Township were first on scene with the department’s grass rig and attacked the perimeter of the burning backyard at the residence as the homeowners did what they could with a shovel and garden hose. More crews from Columbia Township’s fire department also arrived to help knock down the flames. The backyard of the home was completely scorched as the fire steadily crept toward the rear and side of the home. As warmer weather approaches, fire departments will begin to be called to more field fires that are usually started as controlled burns that get out of control usually from high winds or because they were unattended.