Pictured is the scene of Friday’s fire on Bluffside Road. (submitted photo)

The Columbia Fire Department received assistance from the Millstadt, Camp Jackson, Prairie du Pont and Waterloo firefighters in knocking down a fire in the area of 6725 Bluffside Drive near Metter Road about 10:30 a.m. Friday.

An old house, barn and some sheds — seven buildings in all — were set ablaze in an effort to clear land on the former Columbia Quarry Co. property, which is now owned by Beelman Trucking. A St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department deputy requested the fire department to respond because the fire appeared to be getting out of control.

“Nobody was watching it,” Columbia Fire Chief Mike Roediger said.

Emergency responders checked on multiple firefighters at the scene as a precaution with midday temperatures in the 90-degree range.

Firemen worked at the scene approximately three hours, Roediger said.