Damage assessment is underway in Chase County after a massive grass fire charred thousands of acres of pastureland, destroyed two houses, killed a handful of cattle and had residents of Cedar Point on edge for much of Wednesday.
Chase County Sheriff Richard Dorneker says his 911 call center got three calls about the fire shortly after 2:15 pm once it started in southeast Marion County and crossed the county line. The fire pushed to the northeast towards Cedar Point, a town of less than 30 people, and at one point the National Weather Service issued a fire warning telling residents south of the town to evacuate and residents in the town to be prepared to leave. Dorneker says it’s unclear if anybody left.
Firefighters from Chase and Marion counties battled the fire, eventually turning it to the east near Little Cedar Creek with the help of a tanker airplane from Hutchinson. However, two abandoned houses were destroyed and an unlisted number of calves died. No injuries to people were reported.
The cause of the fire is unclear. Dorneker says the initial estimate is better than 7,000 acres or the equivalent of 10 square miles burned, but a final number may not be released until Thursday.
The firefighting effort took place with temperatures in the 70s and 80s across the area, extremely dry vegetation and wind gusts above 40 mph for most of the day.
6:45 pm Wednesday: Blaze near Cedar Point controlled; two abandoned houses destroyed
Two abandoned houses have been destroyed by a grass fire that is finally under control near Cedar Point.
The houses are southwest of the small town in far western Chase County. So far, no other structures have been impacted, according to Chase County Sheriff Richard Dorneker. No injuries have been reported so far.
The fire burned over 7,000 acres and forced the National Weather Service to tell residents south of Cedar Point to evacuate before it was finally controlled around 6:45 pm. Dorneker has confirmed the origination point of the fire was in southeast Marion County. The cause, however, may not be determined for several hours.
6:20 pm Wednesday: Blaze near Cedar Point estimated at 70 percent contained; 7,000 acres already burned
Help continues to head to western Chase County as a massive grass fire continues near Cedar Point.
Chase County Sheriff Richard Dorneker says at least one tanker plane from Hutchinson is helping firefighters from Chase and Marion counties, who have spent much of Wednesday afternoon battling a fire in hot, gusty weather conditions. The fire started near the Chase-Marion county line northeast of Burns and was aimed at Cedar Point until it was turned from a northeasterly to an easterly direction near Little Cedar Creek. As of 6 pm, Dorneker says the fire — which has already burned some 7,000 acres — is an estimated 70 percent contained.
The National Weather Service issued a countywide fire warning Wednesday afternoon, telling residents south of Cedar Point to evacuate. The warning has since expired, but residents in and south of the town still need to watch the situation until the fire is out.
So far, there have been no reports of injuries or structural damage. The cause of the fire has not been determined.
5 pm Wednesday: Blaze turning away from Cedar Point; residents still told to monitor situation
Firefighters and law enforcement continue working to halt a large grass fire before it reaches Cedar Point in western Chase County.
Chase County Sheriff Richard Dorneker says firefighters from Chase and Marion counties are involved along with Chase County deputies. The origination point of the fire is currently unclear and the cause is to be determined. The fire had been moving to the northeast but has turned to the east — towards Little Cedar Creek and away from Cedar Point.
There is currently no word on how much acreage has burned. As of 4:15 pm, no structures had been affected and no injuries had been reported.
Residents south of Cedar Point are still being told to evacuate until the fire is out. Residents of Cedar Point are told to monitor the situation and evacuate if they feel that step is necessary.
3:45 pm Wednesday: Cedar Point residents told to monitor incoming grass fire, prepare for possible evacuation
Residents of Cedar Point are being told to monitor an incoming grass fire and make plans to evacuate if needed. Residents south of the community of nearly 30 people are being told to move to safety until the fire is out.
Chase County Sheriff Richard Dorneker says the grass fire in question may have started in eastern Marion County and is moving northeast towards the community. The fire was within eight miles of Cedar Point as of 3:30 pm. Smoke from the fire is visible in eastern Chase County on Wednesday afternoon.
Residents do not need to evacuate now but are being told to keep track of the fire’s progress. Several fire departments and Chase County deputies are working to put the fire out.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates.
