State Fire marshal investigating cause of Shawnee grass fire

SHAWNEE, Okla. (AP) -- The state Fire Marshal's Office is investigating a grass fire that destroyed two barns and scorched about 80 acres of grassland near Shawnee.<br/><br/>Jim VanAntwerp, battalion

Thursday, November 10th 2005, 5:47 am

By: News On 6

SHAWNEE, Okla. (AP) -- The state Fire Marshal's Office is investigating a grass fire that destroyed two barns and scorched about 80 acres of grassland near Shawnee.

Jim VanAntwerp, battalion chief of the Shawnee Fire Department, says the blaze broke out shortly before 3 PM Wednesday after strong winds spread flames from a trash fire in rural Pottawatomie County.

VanAntwerp says the fire spread quickly across parched fields northwest of Shawnee, threatening several structures.

Two barns with hay in them were lost due to the blaze.

He says no injuries were reported. The fire was finally snuffed out at 5:44 PM.

VanAntwerp says he doesn't expect the Fire Marshal to recommend criminal charges because the grass fire wasn't intentionally set.