Area fire departments scrambled to douse a number of grass fires that happened Wednesday.
The biggest started in a remote part of northwest Greenwood County near Teterville. Greenwood County Fire Chief Doug Williams says the fire started along 300th Road near Road F after 3 pm and burned some two miles to the northwest before firefighters could get to the scene. Williams says firefighters from Greenwood and Chase counties were able to split the fire and eventually put it out in a pasture, but the fire burned another half-mile before it was put out.
The cause is under investigation. Olpe Fire and the Lyon County Highway Department mobilized equipment if needed but were released as the fire moved away from the Lyon County line.
That fire started about an hour after a fire in Clements ended. Chase County Sheriff Richard Dorneker says the fire was an apparent rekindle from a fire two or three days ago and started around 1 pm. The fire was in some timber behind the Harshman Construction storage area and stayed in the trees, burning about 150 yards before it was halted.
Several fire departments responded, including units from Chase County, Cedar Point, Cottonwood Falls and Strong City in addition to Chase County deputies. It took about an hour to get the fire under control.
5:30 pm Wednesday: Scattered grass fires develop in Lyon, Chase, Greenwood counties
As feared, notable grass fire activity developed across parts of the KVOE listening area Wednesday.
Greenwood and Chase county firefighters and law enforcement eventually got a large blaze under control that developed near Teterville and pushed towards the Chase County line. The fire was initially reported by National Weather Service radar shortly after 3 pm. There is currently no word on the cause, origination point or acreage burned at this time. Olpe firefighters and the Lyon County Highway Department mobilized to fight that fire but ultimately were not needed.
Chase County firefighters and law enforcement also responded to a fire that developed in Clements. Details on that fire are pending.
The most significant fire in Lyon County was small in nature — less than five acres — but it tied up several county fire departments in Bushong for roughly two hours. The fire in the 200 block of East Second, just south of the Flint Hills Nature Trail, developed in a wooded area shortly after 3 pm and led to numerous hot spots. Allen-Admire, Americus, Emporia, Reading and Miller firefighters responded along with Lyon County deputies.
The fires developed in the thick of a red flag warning that has now been extended until midnight for Lyon, Coffey, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee counties. The wind advisories for the area end at 6 pm Wednesday, but they resume for Lyon, Coffey, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee counties from 6 am to 4 pm Thursday.
We’ll keep you updated on KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media.
