BOURBON — Three separate fires occurred at private residences in Bourbon in a four day period from Dec. 26 to Dec. 30. The first fire took place at 9:45 a.m. on Dec. 26 in the garage of a private residence off of Highway J in Bourbon. The fire came from the right rear part of the garage roof. The Bourbon Fire Protection District responded to the incident and received assistance from the fire departments in Cuba, Sullivan, Leasburg and Owensville. North Crawford County EMTs and Sullivan EMS also responded to the call. The cause of the fire is pending an investigation.

According to Bourbon Fire Protection District Chief Tim Ware, a second fire took place in the 4100 block of Rock Road in Bourbon at a private residence at 8:10 p.m. on Dec. 28.  Fire departments in Bourbon, Sullivan, St. Clair, Union, Leasburg, Gerald, Steelville and Cuba all responded to the scene and dealt with the wind-driven fire. The cause of the fire is pending an investigation. 

The third fire took place at a private residence in the 3500 block of Highway C at 6:45 a.m. on Dec. 26. All occupants were out of the residence at the time of the fire. Highway C was closed as firefighters from Bourbon, Sullivan, Cuba, Leasburg, Owensville, St. Clair, Union, Bowles, Gerald, Buford, Pacific and Marthasville dealt with the fire that escalated due to the ferocious wind. The cause of the fire is pending an investigation. 

Ware spoke afterward about the difficulty of putting out the fires with such intense winds.

“When the wind starts like that, it makes it very difficult to extinguish so we appreciate all the help we got,” Ware said.