Firefighters extinguish Meade grass fire near buildings.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. 

MEADE TWP. — Firefighters were able to prevent a grass fire from spreading to a nearby house and barn Monday afternoon, despite dry conditions and a slight breeze. Free Soil/Meade Fire Department was initially dispatched to 7940 N. Reid Road about 2 p.m. Because of a manpower shortage, the department requested aid from Grant Township Fire Department and later Fountain Area Fire Department. A wild land firefighting unit from U.S. Forest Service also was on scene. Fountain was disregarded prior to arriving. The fire occupied a small area but was about 30 feet from the nearby seasonal residence. Fire units cleared the scene within an hour.