A rekindle from the weekend led to a fire that killed two horses and destroyed several farm buildings just south of Emporia on Tuesday.
Emporia Fire, several nearby departments and Lyon County deputies responded to the 1400 block of Kansas Highway 99 around 3:20 pm after a report of a structure fire. Emporia Fire Battalion Chief Tony Fuller:
The fire then moved directly to the complex, which included a small horse barn. Two horses were found dead in their stalls.
Overnight, Emporia’s rural fire unit, Allen-Admire, Miller and Reading firefighters went to the junction of the Kansas Turnpike and Road 280 about 12 miles northeast of Emporia after a mechanical malfunction in a semi caused a fire. The blaze burned less than 10 acres and got close to a farmstead but was put out before it did any structural damage.
Grass fires also developed in neighboring counties. The biggest fire affecting area counties was likely one that developed west of Wilsey and ran north at least 10 miles to near White City. Morris County dispatchers say the fire was three miles wide at times but no significant structural damage was reported. Chase County fire crews were also dispatched to help with grass fire activity in Marion County.
6:45 pm Tuesday: Two horses dead, several buildings destroyed in blaze near Emporia
Two horses are dead and several farm buildings are destroyed after a fire near Emporia on Tuesday.
Emporia Fire, several nearby departments and Lyon County deputies responded to the 1400 block of Kansas Highway 99 around 3:30 pm after a report of a structure fire. Emporia Fire Battalion Chief Tony Fuller tells KVOE News there was heavy fire and smoke when firefighters arrived. The fire spread from a small complex of outbuildings to a trailer and a hay pile.
Two horses were found dead in their stalls.
Fuller says the fire appears to be accidental. An official cause and origination point are both to be determined.
The fire followed a small rekindle brush fire at Roads 215 and J and set off a 40-minute scramble for county fire crews, with grass fires reported at 651 Road K-7, 1526 Road W and the 2800 block of Road S all reported by 4:15 pm. Details on these fires are pending.
4:10 pm Tuesday: Critical fire danger leads to rapid burst of fire activity in Lyon County
Tuesday afternoon became busy in a hurry for Lyon County firefighters.
Firefighters from Emporia and nearby departments were called to a structure fire and two grass fires within a 30-minute stretch:
*Firefighters were called to the 1400 block of Kansas Highway 99, about a mile south of Emporia, for a structure fire around 3:30 pm
*Fire crews were called out to 651 Road K-7 near Olpe for a brush fire shortly before 4 pm.
*Firefighters were dispatched to 1526 Road W for a brush fire at 4 pm.
On top of that, firefighters also went to the 2800 block of Road S shortly after 4 pm.
Details about these fires are currently pending.
