News : Man dies during out-of-control grass fire

A rural Vinton man who buried his wife a year ago this month died Tuesday during an out-of-control grass fire.

Robert Bush, 82, was pronounced dead at the scene of a grass fire located 3 miles west of Urbana in Benton County.

Bush was burning off a garden area on his farm at 2858 55th Street (Highway 150) around 2:15 p.m. Wednesday when the fire got away from him in the gusty winds. While trying to extinguish the fire he was apparently overcome by the fire.

Fire crews from Urbana Fire Department were able to quickly extinguish the flames upon arrival.

Assisting at the scene was the Urbana Fire Department, Center Point Ambulance, Benton County Sheriff’s Office, and neighbors.

The nvestigation is continuing by the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Urbana Fire Department, State Fire Marshall’s Office, and the Benton County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Bush married his wife, Evelyn, on Sept. 14, 1958. She preceded him in death on March 6, 2010. The couple enjoyed gardening; the fire took place in an area Bush planned to use for a garden this spring.