Grass

Fire crews battled several grass fires around central and western Kansas Wednesday afternoon. An updated from the Adjutant General's office at 8:30 says the fires have been extinguished or contained. Fire crews remain on the scene of several fires, including one that burned in Phillips County, looking for flares ups. They'll likely remain on duty through the evening. The State Emergency Operations Center in Topeka was activated just before five o'clock Wednesday afternoon.

An overheated car is being blamed on sparking a major grass fire in Decatur County. The fire started early Tuesday afternoon six miles west of Oberlin.  The Operations Manager of High Plains Radio Andrew Stossmeister says the overheated car was sitting on the side of the road when it sparked a fire. The fire moved northeast more than ten miles, taking out several out buildings seven wheat fields. He says several buildings were evacuated because of the flames, including his radio station.  He says for about an hour they were kept out. Stossmeister says the radio station was lucky, because the flames didn't jump the highway.  But he says the other side of the highway sustained more damage.

Hot and dry conditions have meant more work for firefighters in Ford County. Tuesday firefighters there worked to stop at least three fires, including one near Mullinville. Already this month Ford County has dealt with 42 fires. One of those was a grass fire Monday in the Wilroads Garden area. That fire burned around five acres of land and put four homes in danger. The siding on one of those homes was damaged, but fire crews were able to stop it from damaging the inside of the home.

Multiple agencies fight a large grass fire in Lincoln County Saturday afternoon. The fire which is now under control broke out just south of Sylvan Grove, Kansas. Officials tell Eyewitness News that one fireman was hurt. The extent of his injuries are not known. Several structure were in danger at one point. There's no exact estimate of the size of the fire but Emergency Manager Rod Job says several acres are burned.

Several fire departments battled a 60-acre grass fire west of Buhler in Reno County Wednesday afternoon. The fire is now out. Reno County officials tell us that a shed was threatened, but crews kept it from catching fire. The fire burned along East 95th Avenue between Buhler and Medora. No injuries were reported. Click to See Photos of the Fire A month ago, a farmer burnt straw bales. Last week, the fire re-ignited and 20 acres of the wheat field caught fire.

Firefighters are keeping an eye on what's left of a grass fire in Rice County. The fire started Friday afternoon in the southwestern part of the county. Several wheat fields were on fire. Authorities tell Eyewitness News, the fire is essentially under control, and they'll keep and eye on it through the night. No one was hurt and no structured burned. Sparks from a passing train are believed to have started the fire.

Grass isn't supposed to be higher than 12 inches in the city of Wichita. But in some places, the city may be in violation. A new mowing contractor is trying to keep-up with the growing grass and weeds inside the city's storm drainage ditches. But some residents are noticing it's falling behind. From sun up, to sun down, even on the weekends, the city contractor is trying to catch-up on a mowing schedule that's now a week behind. Steve Hedrick noticed the problem in Planeview a week ago.  His front porch looks-out over a drainage ditch.

Investigators say a grass fire is responsible for one of two separate fires that destroyed two Hutchinson homes Tuesday. The Hutchinson Fire Department says ornamental pampas grass caught fire at a home in the 100 block of east 12th Tuesday afternoon. The fire spread from the grass to the home, and destroyed the home. Investigators value the loss at $150,000. They do now know what caused the grass to catch fire. Investigators still have not determined the cause of a fire Tuesday morning that destroyed a home in the 800 block of north Walnut.

Emergency crews have reopened the westbound K-96 entrance ramp to southbound I-235. A grass fire earlier Tuesday afternoon forced police to close it. Emergency dispatchers call today a "Level 3" day. That means firefighters treat grass fires with a higher priority due to the high winds and dry ground.