Emporia Fire handled a pair of small fires and a pair of suspected fires that had other causes Sunday.
The fires developed within 30 minutes of each other, one in the Emporia city limits and one about two miles south of town. Emporia Fire Battalion Chief Eron Steinlage says the fire at 618 Garfield, which developed shortly before 6:45 pm, started as a tree debris burn and eventually moved to a nearby tree and some grass. The fire was out in less than 30 minutes.
Shortly after that fire was put out, Emporia and Hartford-Neosho Rapids firefighters went to 1520 Road 140 after a controlled brush fire went out of control and moved towards some hay bales and a house. Steinlage says the fire was handled quickly with no damage to the house or the hay.
Details about the suspected fires can be found below.
6:15 pm Sunday: Reported house fire in Emporia turns out to be burned-out refrigerator motor; suspected semi fire stems from failed radiator hose
A pair of reported fires Sunday, one in Emporia and one northeast of the city, had no connections to fire after they were investigated.
Around 4:40 pm, Emporia, Americus and Olpe firefighters responded to 912 Huntington after an odor investigation was upgraded to a fire call after a smell of smoke. The call was then downgraded after firefighters learned the source was a burned-out refrigerator motor.
Americus and Olpe firefighters were canceled before arriving on scene.
Almost simultaneously, Emporia Fire reported to the Kansas Turnpike’s Emporia service exit five miles northeast of the Emporia tollgate after a report of a semi fire. Instead of a fire, EFD found a blown radiator hose. Fire crews put down some drying agent and returned to service.
No injuries have been reported with either incident.
5 pm Sunday: Emporia Fire responding to separate reports of structure, vehicle fires
Emporia Fire and two nearby fire departments are responding to a reported structure fire in northwest Emporia.
Fire was reported in the 900 block of Huntington Road west of the Emporia Country Club around 4:40 pm.
Separately, Emporia Fire is responding to a reported semi fire on the Kansas Turnpike near Emporia.
Details are pending on both incidents. KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media will have updates.
