A farm building is considered a total loss after a trash fire got out of control about 10 miles north of Kalona Friday morning.

Kalona Fire Chief Jerry Zahradnek says his department was called to 4775 Derby Avenue Southwest at about 11 a.m. for a vacant hog shed engulfed in flames and a neighboring building suffered minor damage. Firefighters were able to contain the fire after it reached within a few feet of two empty trailer homes and about 20 round bales of hay,

Zahradnek reports there were no injuries and damages were estimated at about $5,000. Kalona QRS and the Hills, Riverside, and Wellman fire departments also responded to the scene.

Zahradnek says that trash fire and the ditch fire that killed a woman near Marion Sunday are examples of how flames from a controlled burn can get out of control quickly in these dry conditions. He adds there are other factors to consider in advance, “Your wind direction is big and just because it’s grass and sticks and that type of thing, that smoke is still smoke and you don’t want to breathe that stuff. You need to be ready with a garden hose and even if you have a rake, a leaf blower and all that, you’re still susceptible to breathing that smoke and it’s hard on your lungs.”

Zahradnek reminds residents to call the Washington County Communications Center to alert authorities of your controlled burn and the Kalona Fire Department also offers controlled burns for a donation.