Authorities responded to a forest fire call Tuesday around 1:30 p.m. off of Wharton Station Road in Washington.

According to one bystander on the scene, Washington resident Phillip Matkins was burning his wheat fields when the fire unexpectedly jumped a ditch and moved toward a group of trees north and west of the fields.

Soon after the first call, dispatchers sent out a second call for more firefighting equipment. Washington Fire, Clark’s Neck Volunteer Fire Department and the North Carolina Forest Service were assisting at the scene.

The fire was not out of control, but Matkins called authorities early as a precautionary measure to avoid fire spreading farther into the forest, according to the bystander.

There were no injuries. Nearby livestock was also unharmed, and there was no damage to structures in the vicinity of the blaze.