MURFREESBORO, Tenn (WMOT) -- State fire crews have worked more than two-dozen wildfires in Middle Tennessee in the last five days.
Highland Rim Fire Resource Coordinator James Phillips says his crews have worked 27 fires in the Mid-State since July 1. He says local fire departments ask for state assistance on all but the smallest wild fires.
Phillips says the fires his teams have responded to ranged up to about 25 acres in size, and most had a human cause.
“Some of them were equipment, a few debris, some lightning, Several, half-a-dozen or so roughly, were fireworks. Then you have, once in a while, something odd like you might have piece of glass in a field.”
Phillips says that, between the fireworks and the dry conditions, he expected to be busier last Wednesday night, but his teams were only called to work a couple of fires.
The Highland Rim state fire team provides fire assistance to 24 counties in Middle Tennessee. It has about 50 firefighters at its disposal and 26 heavy equipment units.