Environmental conditions obstructed efforts by local fire departments to put out a wildfire that broke out Monday afternoon in Derrick City.

Derrick City Volunteer Fire Chief James Kelley said the department was called out about 3 p.m. to a fire behind 645 Derrick Road, bringing one engine, utility and rescue vehicle. They “attempted to quickly extinguish the fire using a booster line and some hand tools; however, with the dry, windy conditions, the fire spread quickly up the hillside.”

Members of the Rew Volunteer Fire Department were asked to bring utility and manpower to the scene, and the Bradford Township Volunteer Fire Department was asked to bring manpower and equipment.

“We also had personnel that assisted with two ATVs to assist with transporting personnel up into the woods, as the terrain was very steep,” Kelley said.

No one was injured, but an estimated six to seven acres of land was burned, he said.

Battling the blaze were a total of 39 firefighters, including 19 from Derrick City, eight from Rew and 12 from Bradford Township.

Firefighters raked fire lines around the perimeters using tools such as rakes, shovels and leaf blowers to keep it from spreading, and Indian cans were used to extinguish it. They cut down trees with chainsaws if the trees were on fire or could be sources of fuel, he explained.

“The terrain was very steep and with the high winds, low humidity and dry leaves and brush it made it difficult to contain, as the wind continued to shift and pick up throughout the incident,” he said.

Because it was dark — about 6 p.m. — when the fire was out, the Derrick City Volunteer Fire Department planned to return to the property, owned by Tom Bromeley, this morning to conduct the investigation into the cause. In the meantime, the cause is being ruled undetermined, according to Kelley. “It doesn’t look suspicious at this time, but I will have more after the investigation is conducted.”

Firefighters left the scene about 6:30 p.m.