Area firefighters have been hard at work with a troublesome spot for grass fires in southwest Osage County this week.
Osage County fire units have been getting mutual aid help from several departments in Lyon and Coffey counties since a grass fire destroyed two barns in the area of 325th and Valencia Road, or about seven miles southeast of Reading, on Sunday. Hartford-Neosho Rapids helped to put out that blaze.
Osage County Sheriff’s Office Communications Director Bret Lewis says crews from Osage County, Lebo and Reading returned to that area for a rekindle grass fire shortly after 1:45 pm Tuesday — only to return shortly after 7 pm after yet another rekindle brought help from Lebo, Melvern and Reading. It took until around 9:15 pm for all fire departments to clear the scene.
As the evening fire was underway, another grass fire developed in the 18700 block of South Morrill Road, about seven miles north of Lyndon, shortly before 8 pm. Burlingame and Carbondale firefighters handled that incident, with the firefighting effort taking about 90 minutes.
Another rekindle developed near 317th and Docking, or about 1.5 miles northwest of 325th and Valencia, around 9:20 am. Crews from Osage County, Lebo and Reading worked into the afternoon hours to get that fire under control.
Lewis says strong winds evident since Monday have contributed to the rekindles near 317th and Docking and near 325th and Valencia. Aside from the Sunday fires, damage reports are pending for the activity Tuesday and Wednesday.
10:30 am Wednesday: Osage County grass fire prompts response by Reading units
Wind speeds aren’t quite as bad as they were earlier in the week, but the grass fire danger is still evident areawide.
Reading Fire had to go into Osage County after a fire developed near 317th and Docking Road, about a mile north of Arvonia Cemetery and five miles east-southeast of Reading, around 9:30 am. Other information is currently pending.
This follows grass fires near 325th and Valencia, about 1.5 miles to the southeast, on both Sunday and Monday. Sunday’s activity destroyed two barns. Other details from the Sunday and Monday fire activity have not been released.
Wind gusts have been between 40-45 mph at times Wednesday morning, following gusts approaching 50 mph Monday and confirmed at 59 mph between Emporia and Olpe on Tuesday. The 59 mph is just above the 58 mph threshold for severe thunderstorm winds.
The fire danger remains elevated Wednesday despite increasing relative humidity levels ahead of a chance of heavy rain and severe weather through Wednesday night.
