Emporia and Americus firefighters made quick work of a brush fire that developed north of Emporia on Saturday. It also turned out Emporia fire crews were not needed on a reported illegal brush fire in a later call.
Shortly after 1 pm, Emporia and Americus fire crews went to the 2400 block of Road L after a grass fire went out of control into some corn stubble. Crews got the fire out quickly after it burned about half an acre. There were no injuries and no buildings were threatened.
Nearly half an hour later, a call of an illegal burn in the 1400 block of West Fifth was toned out. Emporia Fire responded, finding nothing.
It was later determined the call came from McPherson. Lyon County Emergency Communication Center Director Roxanne VanGundy says Emporia is a backup 911 call center for several agencies, including McPherson County, and the overall system hunts for a backup location if the original agency does not answer in 90 seconds. The address in question resembled one from Emporia, which is why local crews were dispatched. VanGundy says the call was later routed back to McPherson.
1:45 pm Saturday: Emporia FD responds to brush fires Saturday afternoon
Emporia firefighters have responded to a pair of brush fires within 30 minutes of each other Saturday afternoon — one near Emporia and one in the city limits.
Firefighters were dispatched to the 2400 block of Road L, about six miles north of Emporia, just after 1 pm. Early indications are the fire got into some corn stubble. Americus Fire was called out as mutual aid.
Shortly before 1:30 pm, Emporia Fire went to the 1400 block of West Fifth for a reported illegal burn.
Additional details will be divulged later. Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates.
