Firefighters in Lyon and Morris counties had to contend with fires at two different locations Sunday afternoon and evening.
Firefighters were first called to US Highway 56 between Lyon County Roads A and B for a grass fire around 3:30 pm. They were in the process of ending their response when a tree fire was reported in the 200 block of East Second in Bushong shortly before 6 pm. As the unnamed landowner assumed the fire suppression duties on East Second around 6:30 pm, the US-56 fire rekindled.
Allen-Admire Fire Chief Tharon Mott says the initial US-56 fire developed as the landowner had a controlled burn underway on sericea lespedeza, only to have the fire go out of control after the wind shifted. The fire caused smoke to cross US-56 on several occasions.
There are no indications as to the fire in the Bushong city limits.
Several departments responded to one, if not both fires, including Allen-Admire, Americus, Dunlap and Miller. Lyon County deputies also responded to both scenes.
No injuries were reported at either location. Over 100 acres of grass were burned along US-56. The damage estimate after the Bushong fire is pending.
3:40 pm Sunday: Grass fire reported in northwest Lyon County
Numerous fire crews from different departments have responded to a reported brush fire in northwest Lyon County on Sunday afternoon.
The fire was reported along US Highway 56 between Lyon County Roads A and B, over 20 miles northwest of Emporia and about 10 miles east-northeast of Council Grove, around 3:30 pm. Other details are currently pending, but there are reports of smoke affecting highway traffic as of 3:45 pm.
Currently responding or on scene are Allen-Admire, Americus, Dunlap and Miller fire departments and Lyon County deputies.
KVOE and KVOE.com will have updates.
