By Jillian Duke

Courier Staff 

SMOKE BILLOWS from a burning house at 105 Willow Point in Haskell as firefighters try to keep the flames from spreading to other structures. The house was a total loss, but no injuries were reported. (Photos special to the Courier)

    Haskell Fire Chief Brian Cotten said he and another firefighter, both volunteers, responded to the fire about 11:30 a.m. at 105 Willow Point, home of David Clark and his family.
    “It was a total loss, but no one was injured,” the chief said.
    Mayor Jeff Arey said four houses were under threat and some received some damage. “These are brand new homes,” he said.
    Arey said officials believe the origin was a grass fire caused by burning trash barrels. However, Cotten said the fire marshal was unable to determine the exact cause.
    Whatever the case, Arey said the fire serves as a reminder that it’s against the law to burn anything other than leaves and yard debris within the city limits. “And we certainly encourage anyone burning leaves or limbs to be extremely cautious where and when they burn,” he said. “Saturday was so windy. It was not a good day to burn, and you should never leave something unattended.”
    Cotten said he’s thankful to the fire departments that assisted his crew.
    “We made the initial attack and were on the scene until the mutual aid fire department arrived, which was Traskwood. Then Turtle Creek and Lonsdale arrived to provide assistance,” he said.
    Arey also expressed his appreciation. “We certainly want to thank the other departments and volunteers who responded.”
    Cotten and Arey would like to have paid daytime shifts at the fire station because they said Saturday’s fire could have been much worse if injuries had occurred.
    Arey said the volunteers, including Cotten who’s been chief since 2000, do a great job, but most work during the day and those daytime hours can be a struggle.
    “We’re very shorthanded,” Cotten said. “A lot of people don’t realize we’re a volunteer fire department. There are five new subdivisions. People assume we’re a paid full-time department.”
    Cotten said the city is looking at a way to put firefighters on a daytime shift. “Fifty-four percent of fires last year were from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” he said.
    The matter was discussed at the Jan. 14 city council meeting and a task force has been formed.
 One of its tasks will be to consider if and when a sales tax proposal should go before voters to fund daytime shifts for the fire department.