The Hicksboro Fire Department got two calls within a 2-hour period on Wednesday afternoon – both on Thomas Road – but were able to take care of them with minimal property damage, thanks to a quick response, mutual aid and a helicopter from the Forest Service.

Hicksboro Chief Chad Blake said the first call came at 3:03 p.m., most likely from someone passing by the area. Gusty wind conditions apparently caused a brush fire to get out of control of the person burning yard debris. The second fire call came in at 4:43 p.m. after a tree fell on a power line that caught some pine straw and vegetation on fire, Blake told WIZS News Thursday.

“They were both fairly large fires,” Blake said, adding that together the fires burned about 20 acres and several sheds – one at the first fire and two at the second fire.

But there was no major property loss and there were no injuries, he reported.

The N.C. Forest Service brought in a plow and a helicopter to assist with the first fire, and when the second call came in, Blake said it went back and forth, dumping water on both fires.

In addition to the Forest Service, Hicksboro got help from Vance County Fire Department, as well as Townsville, Stovall and Bullock volunteer fire departments.

“We do have people at our station who are ready to respond 24 hours a day, 6 days a week,” Blake said. “We got there pretty quickly.”