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Reno County fire forces family to pack and leave

April 10, 2011|By Ryan Johnson & Melody Pettit | KWCH 12 Eyewitness News

(RENO COUNTY, Kan.) — Mandy Thompson got her three dogs and two kids to safety, before frantically filling her car with belongings.

"I just wanted to get everything out, animals, pictures, clothes," Thompson said.

Time was running out as flames and smoke march toward her house.

"It's right behind the house, in the trees," said Thompson.

A group of concerned neighbors and friends gather to figure out how they can help. Firefighters from three different counties weren't having much luck.

"It's as bad as I've ever seen it," said Richard Jones the Fire Chief for Sterling.

The fire reaches rows of cedar trees something fire crews were hoping to avoid.

"Once it reaches those cedars it's prairie torch...it gets too hot. We couldn't get within 200 feet," said firefighter Billy Higgins.

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Thompson is now in a full on panic. She waits at her house until fire fighters tell her she has to leave. Things go from bad to worse...as the weather doesn't cooperate.

But fire crews continue to battle and area farmers start plowing the area closest to the house until finally the fire is under control just a quarter of a mile from Thompson's house.

"It hasn't set in yet but I'm so thankful that everything is out and I hope we are safe," Thompson said.

Thompson is still processing what just happened and how close she came to losing everything.

"It's nothing I want to go through again. It was scary and traumatic," she said.

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A large grass fire in Northwest Reno County is now under control.

Crews spent a good part of the morning and afternoon trying to contain the blaze.

Several different agencies were called to the fire which is in the area of 69th and Huntsville. Several structures were in danger.

Fire officials tell eyewitness news that lightning started the fire on Friday.

Eyewitness News spoke to a family that lives near the fire. Hear what they have to say tonight at 10.

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