A grass fire burned over two square miles and destroyed a combine in western Chase County on Thursday.
Chase County Emergency Management Director Scott Wiltse says the fire was noted near Kansas Highway 150 about six miles northeast of Cedar Point shortly after 5 pm. The fire stayed south of the highway, but it took close to two hours for the fire to be put out.
Wiltse says the fire started when a combine was operating. Residents on site tried unsuccessfully to get the fire out. Crews from Marion County and nearby ranchers helped Chase County Fire get the blaze under control. Strong thunderstorms also moved through the area by 7 pm, helping firefighters with their efforts.
Wiltse says the fire burned between 1,300 and 1,400 acres, or up to nearly 2.2 square miles of property.
