In his years as Putnam County Highway Department Engineer, Jim Peck has seen quite a bit. 
However, Saturday night presented a first for him as his department responded to a collapsed culvert on County Road 825 East, prompting the closure of County Road 825 East between County Road 750 South and County Road 800 South. 

The fact that the culvert collapsed isn't new, but, rather the way it happened is, according to Peck.

"Apparently someone was burning their field and caught the culvert on fire. This is a new one for us. You would have thought someone would have noticed the flames and black smoke and called 911. A person noticed the condition of the culvert and called dispatch," Peck told The Putnam County Post. 

Peck said foreman Clint Maddox investigated and called for utility locations. 

"As soon as the locates are completed, we will replace the culvert. It is a 30-inch HDPE double wall pipe," Peck said. 

The culvert repair should take a day, according to Peck.

"We have this size culvert at the shop," Peck said.