Area fire crews battled an expansive grass fire scene in blustery conditions Sunday.
Firefighters had to battle a string of grass fires along Interstate 35 between mile markers 139-152, or about five miles east of Emporia to near BETO Junction. Given the size of the incident zone, Emporia Fire Capt. Wade Schmidt says his main concern was getting enough resources to the area.
Less than 20 acres burned, with the largest fire covering 10 acres. One house and nearby buildings was threatened and subsequently evacuated, but Schmidt says firefighters kept the blaze from damaging any of those structures. Due to the smoke, Schmidt says there was one incident where a fire apparatus was rear-ended. The second driver left the scene and has not been located. There were no injuries and Schmidt says there was no obvious damage to the fire truck. Schmidt says the event demonstrates the safety risks involved when grass fires develop along a major highway.
Besides Emporia Fire, crews from Allen-Admire, Americus, Hartford-Neosho Rapids, Miller, Reading, Chase County and Coffey County responded to battle the fire. Lyon County deputies, Emporia Police, the Kansas Highway Patrol and KDOT helped with traffic control due to the smoke. Firefighters had to work from around 5:30 pm to almost 9:30 pm before finally resolving the situation.
A cause or causes has not been determined, and Schmidt says there is at least a chance the cause will officially be undetermined once the investigation is finished.
6:30 pm Sunday: Separate grass fires Sunday push smoke across I-35, K-99
A string of brush fires along Interstate 35 kept numerous area fire crews busy late Sunday afternoon through much of the evening.
Fires were reported between mile marker 139, two miles west of the Kansas Highway 130 junction, and mile marker 152, near BETO Junction, around 5:30 pm. With smoke crossing the highway at several points, Lyon County authorities worked with the Kansas Department of Transportation to divert I-35 traffic at mile marker 141 to Road 175. The highway reopened after a short closure.
Damage reports and a cause or causes are currently pending. Lyon County Emergency Dispatch says one house was briefly evacuated.
Besides Emporia Fire, crews from Allen-Admire, Americus, Hartford-Neosho Rapids, Miller, Reading, Chase County and Coffey County responded to battle the fire. Lyon County deputies, Emporia Police, the Kansas Highway Patrol and KDOT helped with traffic control due to the smoke.
The lengthy incident zone highlighted an active day for grass fires in blustery conditions. Firefighters from Allen-Admire, Miller and Reading battled a rekindle that developed near the intersection of US Highway 56 and Kansas Highway 99 shortly before 2 pm. Allen-Admire Fire Chief Tharon Mott says the fire zone was small — three acres or less — after two large brush piles rekindled and sent smoke across K-99 just south of US-56. Mott says the brush piles will continue to smolder for an undetermined period of time.
Also, Americus and Lyon County Rural, Emporia’s rural fire unit, went to Roads 215 and F-5 for what was initially listed as a smoke investigation but led to discovery of a rekindle. Americus Fire was called out first, shortly before 4 pm, with Lyon County Rural providing extra equipment shortly before 4:30 pm. Americus Fire Chief Bill Harmon says high winds fanned the flames and moved it into a tree line. Nobody was hurt.
Wind gusts were at or above 40 mph for most of Sunday afternoon.
