Grassfire burns hillside in park | News

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) -- Several Grand Rapids Fire Department companies helped put out a grass fire at a city park.

The fire started around 4:45 p.m. at Mary Waters Park on Lafayette Ave. NE, near Leonard St. 

Crews had the fire out a short time later, but it left a hillside scorched.  the fire did not reach nearby East Leonard Elementary School.

Firefighters are trying to determine what caused the fire, but they say dry conditions are making it easier for the fires to ignite.  They also say responding to similar fires is beginning to stretch the department thin.

"Obviously, the bigger the fire, the more people we need to get it under control before it gets way out of hand," says Battalion Chief Ron Tennant.