Denison home burns after dumpster fire goes wrong

DENISON, Texas (KXII) – A Denison home burned Monday afternoon after a front yard dumpster fire went wrong.

“With this type of heat and the wind that's blowing today,” said Denison Deputy Fire Chief Landon Lindsey, “all of these conditions are perfect for a fire like this.”

Denison Dispatch initially received the call around 11:30 a.m. Monday.

“Our entire department was at Officer Deering’s funeral,” Lindsey said. “When the officer arrived, the funeral had just ended.”

Lindsey said the initial report was of a grass fire.

“We don't usually have a big answer to that problem, it's usually a brush truck and an engine,” he said.

When they arrived, the fire was already out of control.

“People were burning their trash in the front yard,” Lindsey said. “It only takes a few minutes … the trash comes to his store and spreads all the way to the house before we can get any water on it.”

Last Tuesday, Grayson County Judge Bruce Dawsey issued an emergency burn ban, and Lindsey said this fire is an unfortunate example of exactly why that burn ban is currently in effect.

“Everything is so dry because there’s no rain and there’s no moisture in the air,” Lindsey said. “If there’s a burn ban, that’s serious. We want you to obey the burn ban for that very reason here. It saves your home.”

Plus, it could also save a neighborhood.

“The problem here too is that if the fire spreads to your neighbor’s house and destroys it, they’re the ones who are liable,” Lindsey said. “Whoever started the fire in the first place is liable for the fire. They’re liable for all the damage they cause with that fire.”

In this case, the fire was extinguished with the help of several local agencies, including Denison, Bells, Pottsboro and Locust Fire, and no one was injured in the process.

Penalties for violating an emergency burn ban declared in Grayson County range from a fine of up to $1,000 to six months in jail.

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