ROSS COUNTY, Ohio -- Arson is believed to be the cause of a fire that destroyed more than two dozen acres of land outside the Tar Hollow Forest in rural Ross County.
The fire involved 25 acres of land in northeastern Ross County – right outside Tar Hollow State Park, NBC 4’s Lauren Diedrich reported.
“It was just a big pile of smoke,” said Brian Kelly, of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry.
Officials said the fire began at about 4 p.m. Monday and didn’t stop until Tuesday morning after several area fire departments fought the flames.
Danny Gumm watched from his back yard.
“I hope my house didn’t catch on fire,” Gumm said.
But Gumm didn’t have to worry by late morning. However, his neighbor did – his siding melted off his home.
The Division of Forestry said the brush fire was part of a bigger problem.
“A lot of people burn trash in the morning,” Kelly said. “It doesn’t take much.”
For that reason, Kelly said, there is a burn ban in place through the spring season from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Now, people just need to obey the rule, Diedrich reported.
Forest rangers would not say where the fire started or who they believe started it, but added that the fire was ruled arson.
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