Fire crews are fighting a brush fire in northeast Lyon County.
Firefighters were dispatched to the 2800 block of Road X, about five miles northwest of Reading, before 2:30 pm. Other details are currently pending.
Outdoor burning is discouraged or banned areawide Saturday.
12:45 pm Saturday: Concerns about railroad tie fire in Neosho Rapids unfounded
Initial concerns about a fire involving railroad ties in the Neosho Rapids city limits are unfounded, according to firefighters.
Fire crews from Emporia and Hartford-Neosho Rapids converged on 615 Neosho after the fire was reported shortly before 11 am. Emporia Fire Capt. Wade Schmidt says the fire involved a brush pile that had sent smoke across the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad. There are no indications railroad ties were part of the brush pile.
There have been no reports of injuries or damage to nearby structures.
11:45 am Saturday:
Brush fire activity has started in Lyon County.
Fire crews from Emporia and Hartford-Neosho Rapids were called to 615 Neosho in Neosho Rapids shortly before 11 am after an unspecified number of railroad ties caught fire. The cause of the fire has not been announced. So far, there have been no reports of injuries or damage to nearby structures.
Meanwhile, the forecast for very high fire danger has prompted officials in Chase and Coffey counties to issue separate countywide burn bans for at least Saturday.
KVOE and KVOE.com will have updates.
8:30 am Saturday: Outdoor burns strongly discouraged Saturday
After a near-perfect day for brush fire activity Friday, outdoor burns are strongly discouraged Saturday.
Southerly winds are expected between 20-40 mph for most of the day, combining with high temperatures in the mid- to upper 80s, dry grasses and humidity levels below 30 percent to create a very high fire danger.
Despite temperatures in the 70s and gusts under 20 mph, Lyon County firefighters had several brush fires to put out Friday. Emporia and Allen-Admire handled a fire that started in some brush in the 1200 block of Road 270 and moved into a tree line. Americus Fire took care of a fire in the 200 block of Road 230, while Olpe, Hartford-Neosho Rapids and Madison finished off an out-of-control burn near Roads 10 and F.
Other details about Friday’s fire activity are pending.
Landowners who conducted controlled burns earlier this week, especially Friday, are urged to take extra care to make sure those fires are out so they don’t rekindle in Saturday’s gusty conditions.
