(MT. VERNON, IL) — Area fire departments had a busy weekend chasing brush, field and grass fires, including a 10-acre fire in Jefferson County Saturday afternoon that required three departments to bring under control. Firefighters from Jefferson County Rural Fire District, Woodlawn and Mt. Vernon responded to the fire that started as a brush fire that got out of control. Salem firefighters responded Saturday to two small grass fires, one behind a home on East Boone that started as a landscape waste fire that spread out of control and another on Nation Road near the Tri-County Electric Substation. On Friday, Salem firefighters responded to a small grass fire at Shuler and Alma Hatchery Roads. The fire began at the edge of a field and caused no damage. Fire departments ask you to first contact the fire departments to let them know you intend to perform a controlled burn and your location, as well as to only burn small piles instead of large piles to make controlling them easier. Also, place all piles as far away from structures and tree lines as possible, while paying special attention to the direction and intensity that the wind is blowing. They remind people to call 911 as soon as you can when an emergency service is needed. Know the address of the location of the emergency, and be prepared to answer in detail as many questions as possible that you are asked by the dispatcher, as that will allow the responding agencies to deploy the correct equipment. As always, test and inspect your smoke detectors, as they do save lives, but only if you have them, and they are functioning. Seven children were killed in New York just days ago because there were no smoke detectors to warn them of a fire.