TRR photo by David Hulse (Click for larger image)

Winds of chance

By DAVID HULSE

ELDRED — Firefighters are pictured extinguishing an April 27 afternoon brush fire that endangered buildings at 41 Highland Lake Road.

Homeowner Manny Emmanouilidis said he was burning brush down-slope from his home when the wind picked up unexpectedly. Emmanouilidis, who was alone at the house at the time of the 1:30 p.m. incident, said he spent 20 anxious minutes by himself trying to keep the advancing fire away from a shed and the house. “I was scared,” he said.

Highland Lake and Yulan firefighters quickly knocked down the fire, which had gotten close enough to melt vinyl siding on one of the buildings. No one was injured.

Fire Captain Ed Martin said that despite recent rains, there is a continuing high risk for brush fire.