ALAMO, Tenn. — A three-alarm fire caused 40 acres of a popular West Tennessee animal park to burn down Wednesday after park officials said a welding spark got out of hand.
The Crockett County, Tennessee, Sheriff's Department said their dispatch center first got a call about a fire at the Tennessee Safari Park around 11:52 a.m. Wednesday.
Park officials said the fire started when a welding spark got out of hand, and lit a nearby pasture ablaze, quickly spreading out of control.
Crockett County dispatch raised three alarms to different fire departments to help get the fire under control. Highway 412 was closed as firefighters from Gibson, Haywood and Dyer Counties battled the blaze. The fire finally was brought under control around 12:46 p.m.
The Sheriff's Department said 40 acres were involved in the fire, and park officials said no animals were harmed in the blaze.
"A huge thank and bless you to the fire department and the countless many others...who came so quickly when we called for help," Tennessee Safari Park said in a Facebook post.
Crockett County is still under a burn ban as dry conditions continue throughout the area. The Sheriff's Department said the Safari Park fire was the second fire they responded to Wednesday. In late October, another massive fire in Crockett County warranted a large response from firefighters, closing Highway 79 for hours.
The Sheriff's Department said people can help during the burn ban by making sure they don't burn anything outdoors until conditions improve, and putting out all current fires.
