Decatur County Fire and Rescue officers responded to a controlled burn that got out of control setting fire to a shed and two vehicles on Monday, Feb. 23.

When firefighters arrived at 207 Kelley Road, off U.S. 84 West, they found a shed and two nearby vehicles in the back yard fully ablaze. Firefighters worked quickly to contain the fire that had also spread to the grass surrounding the structure and came dangerously close to a next door home. Using crow bars, firefighters opened the hoods of the vehicles to extinguish the car fires.

Shawn Jackson said his brother had obtained a burn permit and was burning a pile of brush at the home that belongs to their mother. He said the wind caused the fire to jump and spread rapidly to the building and vehicles. Jackson said they called E-911 when the fire got out of hand and all the destruction took place within a 15-minute time span.

“I’m just glad nobody got hurt,” Jackson said.

According to the Georgia Forestry Commission’s Web site, a moderate to high risk fire rating was present in Southwest Georgia Monday, but burn permits were being issued.

To find out if burn permits are being issued and to check the current fire danger level visit the Georgia Forestry Commission’s website at www.gfc.state.ga.us To obtain a burn permit by telephone call 1-877-OK2-BURN (1-877-652-2876).