Very high fire danger Tuesday came to fruition with a lengthy firefighting effort about 12 miles north of Emporia.
Firefighters from Emporia, Allen-Admire, Americus, Dunlap, Eskridge, Hartford-Neosho Rapids, Harveyville, Miller and Reading were ultimately called to battle a fire that started near Roads 300 and J. It took over seven hours to get the fire out.
Emporia Fire Battalion Chief Ryan Conley says initially around 5-10 acres in size, but it was rooted in thick, dry grass. It also created a lot of heat, which made it difficult for firefighters to get it put out quickly.
No structures were damaged or destroyed. One piece of hay equipment was damaged. The area has several livestock herds, but Conley says no animals died.
In all, the fire burned an estimated 700 to 800 acres of grass and trees. It also jumped Road 310 and pushed to about a half-mile south of Road 330 before firefighters got it under control. The fire also stretched between Roads H-5 and J.
The blaze was a rekindle from a fire Monday that damaged 60 acres of grass and destroyed two vehicles. That fire was still under investigation when the Tuesday fire started.
The fire danger continues at a very high level Wednesday. Red flag warnings are up for Chase and Greenwood counties from 12-5 pm, meaning automatic burn bans for those respective counties — which are also in a high wind warning until 6 pm for expected wind gusts as high as 60 mph. County-specific burn bans are up for Osage County until further notice and for Wabaunsee County until at least Christmas morning. Wind advisories continue for Lyon, Coffey, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee counties until 6 pm, based on expected wind gusts as high as 50 mph.
Peak wind gusts have already been near 55 mph at the Emporia Municipal Airport and just under 50 mph at Eureka on Wednesday.
We’ll keep you updated on KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media.
4:30 pm Tuesday: Stubborn grass fire continues in north Lyon County
Several area fire departments are battling a grass fire in tough conditions Tuesday.
Fire developed near Roads 300 and J and rapidly expanded with the help of southerly winds between 25-50 mph. The firefighting zone has several tree lines and houses. It also has livestock nearby, so firefighters from Emporia and north Lyon County departments are working to get the fires out while protecting property and animals.
Tuesday’s activity is already listed as a rekindle from a grass fire Monday that damaged about 60 acres of grass and destroyed two vehicles. A cause for Monday’s fire was under investigation when the fire rekindled Tuesday.
A damage report won’t be available until the fire is extinguished.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates.
Photos by Lyon County Sheriff’s Office
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Photos by Chuck Samples/KVOE News
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