Wallingford, IA (Northwestiowanow.com) — A careless neighbor burning on a windy day nearly cost an Emmet County family their home Saturday.

Wallingford Fire Chief Jarrod Fischer says they were called to 220 South 3rd Street in the afternoon where an out-of-control pasture fire was moving quickly north toward a house, barn, and vehicles. An ember from a neighbor’s fire blew into some dry grass and quickly got out of control.

The fire department first attacked the blaze near the farmstead and then put out hot spots to prevent it from flaring up again. The Estherville Fire Department was called as a backup.