Cause of fire determined to be burning trash

A fire in Tryon that could be seen for miles on Tuesday evening, April 1 was a woods fire in the Plum Tree Lane and Jackson Street Extension area that burned approximately 14 acres following residents burning trash.
Tryon Fire Chief Joey Davis said the fire department was dispatched shortly after 6 p.m. to a reported woods fire in the area of 115 Plum Tree Lane, off East Howard Street near the town’s sewer plant. Initial reports were made of heavy smoke, Tryon, Columbus and the N.C. Forest Service were dispatched immediately.
Tryon firefighter Marshall Lipscomb was first on the scene where he saw that several homes were being threatened by the fire in the Jackson Street Extension area, according to reports.
Tryon then called for assistance from Landrum and later from Saluda and Mill Spring Fire Departments. The Polk County EMS stood by the scene and the Polk County Fire Marshal also responded.
Firefighters cleared the scene Tuesday evening but returned early Wednesday morning and determined the fire was 100 percent contained with no structures damaged. Tryon fire estimates firefighters protected approximately 20 structures, including homes and storage buildings.
The cause of the fire has been determined to be residents burning household trash on their property at 115 Plum Tree Lane. The fire was still under investigation as of Wednesday, April 2 and no citations had yet been issued but were expected.