Pit fire

WEST ODESSA A pit fire burned up a little more trash than intended as high winds pushed it into six junk cars and threatened a nearby horse barn Friday afternoon, firefighters on scene said.

West Odessa Volunteer Fire Chief Jimmy Ellis said there were hot barrels at the bottom of the pit, which along with the winds and the parched ground allowed it to kindle a fire outside the pit by approximately 4:45 p.m. Friday in the 8400 block of West 26th Street. It was put out before reaching the fence, but not before damaging several old cars the property owner was keeping.

"We were really lucky," Ellis said, referring to the house and stable next door. A horse was anxiously pacing around the stable fence next door and neighing in the background.

Mitchell Arnold, the property owner, said he wasn't too upset that the fire damaged his cars since they were only used for spare parts. The six cars were left there for by him and his brother over the course of several years.

Chris Barina, a West Odessa volunteer firefighter who was off duty at the time of the fire, said he saw the smoke from down the street and thought Arnold was working on something at first. He later suspected there was something wrong, however, and came to check it out, but the other firefighters had it controlled by then.

"All they really have are just cars, mesquites and empty buildings," he said.

While working the fire, Ellis said he planned to ask Ector County Judge Susan Redford to start a burn ban for the county until the area gets more rain.