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Peninsula firefighters were kept busy on Saturday as the wind kicked up a few controlled burns in the area. Central Emergency Services and the Nikiski Fire Department both responded to controlled burns. The Kenai Fire Department had a false call for a brush fire at the end of South Spruce Street.

The Nikiski Fire Department was called out to Spruce Haven Street at about 2:20 p.m. Saturday for a small hay fire. Battalion Chief Barry Wheeler said the residents who lived there were burning some yard debris when the fire got away from them. The wind picked up and the fire ignited a pile of debris the property owners had set a distance away from the debris they were burning.

"They were complying with their burn permit," Wheeler said. "They thought they had it out."

The fire was relatively small and the property owners were able to get it under control by the time firefighters arrived, Wheeler said. The fire melted part of a plastic storage structure that had hay in it, he said.

Central Emergency Services also responded from their Sterling station to a controlled burn that was reported as an uncontrolled burn at about 12:10 p.m. on Lou Morgan Road. CES shift captain Dick Kapp said the owner was close by and firefighters helped him extinguish the blaze because of the rising wind conditions. Firefighters were able to handle the incident without any additional resources, Kapp said.

"As always we just want folks to be safe with their burns," he said. "Usually rising unexpected winds are a factor (in brush fires) and unattended fires are a problem."

The Kenai Fire Department was called to the end of South Spruce Street on Saturday for a brush fire, but didn't find anything, Fire Chief Mike Tilly said. There are identified areas on the beach where campers are allowed to have warming and cooking fires, he said. Kenai firefighters have responded to fires on the beach in the past, but they're generally large bon fires.

"People just need to use good judgement," Tilly said. "We try and limit the potential for things to get out of control through education and signage."

Saturday's Nikiski fire was small, but Wheeler said it could have been worse if vegetation is dryer. The resident's house was close by, he said. People should move their fires as far away from their structures as possible.

"The big thing is (residents) are held responsible for any cost incurred if (the fire) gets away from them," he said. "We also tell (residents) 'don't hesitate to call 911 because the faster we know, the faster the fire department can come out.'"

Jessica Cejnar can be reached at jessica.cejnar@peninsulaclarion.com.