The Great Bend Fire Department was busy this weekend with five separate fire calls ranging from a campfire that got a little out of control to two structure fires.
The cause of a fire that caused major damage to a home at 1217 Madison St. on Sunday morning is still under investigation, Chief Mike Napolitano said.
Units reported heavy flames coming from the porch and front area of the residence as they arrived at the scene. The home is owned by Tom Pearson and was vacant at the time of the fire.
The GBFD along with members from the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Investigators and Great Bend Police Department remained on scene until approximately 4 p.m. looking into the cause of the fire.
“At the time of this report the cause of the fire is still under investigation,” Napolitano Said. “The fire caused over $60,000 in damage.”
The other fire call that came in on Sunday morning was a report of a deck on fire at 3322 18th St.
As fire and police department units arrived on scene at the home, owner Vincent Deason was able to extinguish the fire. The cause of the fire is believed to be spontaneous combustion of a plastic trash can stored on the deck. The fire caused approximately $5,000 in damage.

Other fires
According to reports, the first call of the weekend came in on Saturday at 9:08 a.m. for a campfire that got out of control. The fire was extinguished by firefighters.
The second fire call that came in on Saturday was at 5:30 p.m. at 20 SE 40 Ave. where a controlled burn spread into a tree row. Units where on scene for about three hours getting the fire under control, Napolitano said.
The last fire call of the weekend came in at 2:24 p.m. on Sunday. Firefighters responded to a report of trees and grass on fire. Units arrived on scene at the north side of the Arkansas River near Kiowa Road where approximately 300 yards of trees and shrubs where ablaze. Firefighters were on scene for about three hours.