Sibley, IA (Northwestiowanow.com) — The Sibley Fire Department was dispatched twice last week to fight grassfires near the BNSF railroad tracks in Osceola County.

Chief Ken Huls says his crew was able to quickly put out the fires both times, including one that was approaching a wooden railroad bridge. Sibley fire was called to to a fire half a mile North of Hawkeye Point at the Highway 60 and 130th Street intersection on Sunday, and half a mile North of 140th Street and Northwest Boulevard on Wednesday.

Both fire calls were made from train crews. Subsequent contact with the railroad indicated that brakes on a train that had previously made the run were misfunctioning and sparks caused similar fires along the line all the way North to Mankato.