Grass Fire

Firefighters have put out two grass fires in Butler County.  The first was at SW 50 th and SW Fulton. Towanda crews worked on this fire. The second grass fire was about five miles south of the first fire. Augusta firefighters extinguished this second fire.  

A grass fire ignited Tuesday after a car caught on fire after turning upside down in a ditch in McPherson. Everyone was able to get out of the car before the fire started. No one was injured. The fire burned the ditch, wheat stubble, and a small portion of a corn field. 20 to 30 acres were burned. Additional grass fire units were called in to help battle the blaze. EMS was on stand-by due to the heat.

Fire departments from Lane County and surrounding communities were called to put out a massive grass fire. The fire started at 1:30pm Saturday in rural Lane County, near mile marker 96 on K-96. The Lane County Sheriff says the fire was an estimated 1 mile wide and 3 miles long, burning an estimated 1,200 to 1,500 acres. It took fire crews 8 hours to put out the fire in triple digit heat. All Lane County fire departments were called to the fire, including units from surrounding communities.

Kingman County officials say a lightning strike sparked a grass fire along Highway 14 late Wednesday. It happened around 10:00 pm severn miles south of Kingman. Around 1000 acres burned in the fire, which spead quickly because of the high winds. One firefighter was taken to Kingman Hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation, that firefighter was treated and released. Crews from Spivey, Kingman, Norwich, Zenda, Nashville, Cunningham, Pretty Prairie and Cheney were called to the scene to fight the blaze.

Authorities in Reno County are allowing people to return to their homes after a grass fire this afternoon. The fire burned at least 400 acres at Sand Hills State Park along K-61. There are no reports of injuries. Non-residential traffic is still being kept away from the area. Fire crews hope to have the fire fully contained later this evening but will keep crews on the scene throughout the night to watch for flare-ups. Winds are blowing around 30 to 40 mph with higher gusts.

An entire town in Southwest Kansas is being evacuated because of a fire. Emergency crews are still working to contain the grass fire in the area. As of 5:30pm the fire was approximately 80% contained. Two hours later, fire crews reported areas had flared up again. One home was lost in the fire, but no injuries have been reported. An eyewitness tells KWCH that the fire began just outside of the city and got worse because of strong winds. People have been evacuated to the high school and American Legion in the nearby town of Sublette, Kansas.

At least five fire departments responded to a grass fire in Butler County early Friday afternoon. An emergency dispatcher says the fire started out as a controlled burn in the 12000 block of S.W. 15th Street, north of Hwy 254, halfway between Benton and Towanda. Only 5 to 7 acres were suppose to burn but it quickly spreading, threatening one home. The fire is now out and no injuries are reported. Grass fire danger will be low this weekend.

Crews put out a grass fire in Reno County Wednesday afternoon. The fire started near the intersection of Yoder Road and Parallel Road, just north of Cheney Lake. Officials say a shed burned down and the fire threatened a home. Cedar trees around the home caught fire but the home itself was saved. There have been no reports of injuries.