Area fire departments were busy tamping down grass fires Sunday.
Reading, Allen-Admire and Miller units went to Roads 240 and V outside Reading after a fire developed involving a swather and grass around 1:30 pm. The swather was new but was destroyed and between 10-15 acres were burned. The swather had apparent electrical issues, according to Reading Fire’s Scott Wilkerson.
About 4 4m, Reading Fire was dispatched to the intersection of Kansas Highway 170 and Valencia, about four miles east of Reading, after a swather clipped a rock and caused a fire about half a mile south of the intersection. About four acres burned. No injuries were reported.
In between, Emporia Fire went to the intersection of Kansas Highway 99 and Road 110 around 3 pm after a small grass fire developed — only to go to K-99 and Road 120 for a grass fire shortly afterward. Battalion Chief Tony Fuller says a swather was being used to cut grass, but it was set low and clipped several patches of gravel, creating sparks that led to the fires. No other damage was reported.
