Crumbling catalytic convertor sparked grass fires west of jasper

Beech Grove Fire Chief Jamie Gunter says Tuesday afternoon grass fires just west of Jasper were caused by a crumbling catalytic converter from a passing vehicle. Both the Beech Grove and Jasper Fire Departments were sent to the Curtis Community on Highway 63 West near Farm to Market Road 777 when the fires were reported. Gunter said he found pieces of a catalytic converter on the ground where the fires were located. Gunter explained that when the device becomes old and begins to fail, it will start coming apart and sometimes extremely hot pieces will land alongside a roadway and spark a fire. Meanwhile, Gunter warned that the heatwave combined with a lack of rainfall has caused treacherously dry conditions and a high fire danger. Gunter urged those who do any outdoor burning to do so very carefully, do not leave a controlled burn unattended, and always have a water hose ready to go if the fire starts to spread.