Wednesday, Sept. 11, was a busy day for county firefighters.

A house fire on John Barnes Road in the south of the county called out several departments at around 12:30 p.m.

South Marshall VFD, Mooresville VFD, Belfast VFD, Farmington, VFD, Five Points VFD, Chapel Hill VFD, and county Emergency Management sent units to the blaze.

While they were responding, calls for grass fires on Spring Place Road and I-65 northbound were received as well.

As engines were being returned to their stations from the early structure fire, another house fire broke out on Old Lake Road in the afternoon. The same departments, with Lewisburg Fire Department as well, responded to the thick, black column of smoke that was visible for miles around, finally extinguishing the fire hours later.

Both homes were a total loss.

Lewisburg has declared a ban on open burning due to the dry conditions, and the state Department of Forestry is monitoring the situation if a countywide restriction might be needed.

Tribune photo by Patty Blackburn

A house on Old Lake Road lies in ruins after a devastating fire last Wednesday