Grass Fire

The threat for grass fires continue throughout western Kansas, as the extreme heat and dry conditions continue. Click Here to See Photos Emergency Manager Bill Ring says about 1,000 acres burned in Ellis County Wednesday. The canyon is in the northeast quadrant of the county.  He says the area that burned is filled with oil wells and cattle. No cattle were lost in the fire, but Midwest Energy lost a lot of power poles. Power poles also burned in Phillips County Wednesday.

A grass fire in Maize was one of a dozen calls departments in Sedgwick County responded to Sunday. Several hay bales caught fire after a controlled burn became out of control just outside the city. But beginning Sunday, Sedgwick County is banning any open burning of brush, grass or trash in barrels. "These weather conditions are not conducive to burning outside anything," says Chief Tammy Snow. After weeks of dry weather and wind gusting over 20 miles an hour, Wichita Fire Chief Tammy Snow says she hasn't seen conditions like these in years.

Fire crews battled three grass fires in Reno County Wednesday afternoon. One burned near 43rd & Juniper and another near 23rd and Airport Road. Firefighters from several departments remain on the scene. Eyewitness News is told the fires are now contained. There are no reports of buildings damaged or injuries. But several homes were threatened.   "I though it's not that bad, but came back here and thought man that got close," said Doug Baker.

By Eyewitness News (RENO/RICE COUNTIES, Kan.) A large grass fire north of Hutchinson is now out. Fire crews remain on the scene Thursday night looking for hot spots. The fire began as a controlled burn near the Reno-Rice county line Thursday morning. By afternoon, the winds picked up and the fire got out of control. Map - Location of Grass Fire Fire crews say between 600 and 700 acres burned by the time the flames were out. There is no private property damage, but flames destroyed one fire truck.

By Eyewitness News (COWLEY COUNTY, Kan.) People may have taken advantage of no wind today to burn their fields. Many of those burns have gotten out of control. In Cowley County, one man died and another was hurt while trying to put out an out of control burn. Nine fire departments responded to the fire at the intersection of Cowley County Road 1 and Road 20. One of the men was taken to a Wichita hospital by helicopter where he later died. The other man was to taken the hospital in fair condition.

Fire crews across the state of Kansas remain on high alert as grass fires continue to break out. Officials that spoke to Eyewitness News say the fires have been popping up due to the unusually dry fall that the state is experiencing. "The lack of humidity and of course being in Kansas the windblown weather also is a factor" says Salina Fire Marshal Roger Williams. Homeowners are urged to treat their yard as a defensive zone when surveying any possible grass fire dangers around their property.

Fire crews put out three grass fires in Butler County Monday afternoon. The largest burned about ten acres and a burn near Douglass. No one was hurt. Crews stayed on the scene for several hours putting out hot spots. The fires come as Kansas and much of the country is dealing with record drought. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has declared more than half the counties natural disaster areas, including every county in Kansas.

Firefighters battled several grass fires along K-96 in Reno County Thursday afternoon. Trains traveling in the area sparked several fires along the railroad tracks between Mt. Hope and Haven. The fires are now out. No one was hurt and no damage is reported. Heavy smoke blew across the road, making it hard for drivers to see.

It's been going on for hours, a grass fire that started around two o'clock Wednesday afternoon in Rice County. 911 dispatchers say fire departments from three counties are working to get the fire under control. There's no word about the fire threatening any buildings. No one was hurt.