Area firefighting departments involved in the East Central Kansas Task Force have returned to their fire stations after a hard 48 hours battling major grass fire activity in southwest Kansas.
Hartford-Neosho Rapids, or Lyon County District 5, was among several fire departments in the task force. Unfortunately, the department lost its newest heavy brush truck due to a mechanical failure. Secretary Matt Zumbrunn tells KVOE News the crew was kept safe, thanks to the work of firefighters from Minneola and Kiowa County.
The incident developed as a grass fire began moving towards Meade, which has been threatened on several occasions since major grass fires began developing a week ago. Units were advised to get to safety, but the truck wouldn’t start despite several attempts. Neither firefighter on the truck was hurt, although the truck will likely be considered as a total loss.
Zumbrunn says the nearly 20-year-old truck was a workhorse for the department — and the loss puts Hartford-Neosho Rapids in a bind until it’s replaced.
Zumbrunn says weather conditions were unlike those typically seen in the eastern half of the state, with high temperatures approaching 100 degrees, shifting wind gusts as high as 45-50 mph and relative humidity levels at times below 5 percent. Task force crew members discussed the fire potential amongst themselves before getting on site Sunday.
Zumbrunn also says the hilly topography and the road network have been challenges for fire crews this week.
Despite the equipment loss, Zumbrunn was glad District 5 had a chance to help.
Also coming home Tuesday were Olpe, Coffey County District 1 involving Lebo and LeRoy; and Osage County District 3 including Melvern and Olivet. Lyon County Emergency Management was also deployed and has since returned.
Kansas Forest Service says conditions Tuesday let firefighters make some significant headway on the fires, specifically in Clark and Meade counties. Six separate fires have now been combined and are being referred to as the Meade Complex Fire. That complex has burned almost 93,000 total acres but is now around 70 percent contained. The Herman Ranch Complex, a combination of two additional fires in Clark County, has burned almost 34,000 acres and is now around 30 percent contained. Weather conditions could also help firefighters make more progress Wednesday.
