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Show Volunteer Firemen Squelch Brush Blaze ESC AL ANTE Quick-acting volunteer firemen extinguished a potentially dangerous blaze in brush adjacent to the Ted Marshall residence in Escalante on Saturday. Neta Haycock reported the fire after a member of her family noticed a flaming utility poie at the Marshall property. She phoned assistant fire chief Tony Jackson at Escalante Sawmills where he works since Fire Chief Merlo Woolsey was unavailable at his place of employment. About a dozen volunteer firemen responded to the call and soon had the flames under control, barely sparing the brick home of the Marshalls. A tree and a gate were also burned. The Marshalls, who live in Las Vegas and vacation in Escalante, were on a picnic at Calf Creek at the time of the fire and unaware of the blaze which started shortly afternoon. This was the third brush fire in the past six weeks in the area. It was thought that the fire may have been started by fireworks, a cigarette or children playing with matches. The Escalante Volunteer Fire Deparmtent is having some problem with well-meaning residents interfering unknowingly with their performance of duty at fires. Unnecessary persons and vehicles responding to a fire scene can easily hamper firefighting efforts. Chief Woolsey has ordered special signs for placement on dashboards of vehicles owned by volunteer firemen which identify them as official volunteer firemen. Chief Woolsey suggested that if a fire occurs during afternoon hours residents call Assistant Chief Jackson at Escalante Sawmills, Inc., 820-4215. In the evening, Chief Woolsey is available at 826-4072. |