Muddy conditions hampered the response to a grass fire in western Coffey County on Saturday.
The fire developed in the 300 block of 23rd Road, about five miles due east of Neosho Rapids and five miles south-southwest of Lebo, getting reported to authorities shortly after 12:30 pm. Hartford-Neosho Rapids Fire Chief Gren Zumbrunn tells KVOE News the fire was spreading rapidly, thanks to winds initially out of the south at above 20 mph. Winds eventually shifted out of the northwest before firefighters cleared the scene after 4 pm.
Besides Hartford-Neosho Rapids, crews responded from Lebo, New Strawn, Miller and Reading. Firefighting was slowed by recent moderate rainfall and snow events, with temperatures in the 40s and 50s to close out last week making for a lot of mud. Several fire trucks got stuck in the mud before the fire was put out.
Zumbrunn says the fire started in a burn barrel and ultimately burned about 100 acres of grassland. It did not burn any structures and it did not cause any injuries.
The grass fire danger will continue at moderate levels Sunday. Wind gusts could be as high as 30 mph.
