A 2004 Ford F-350 diesel pickup was destroyed by fire early Wednesday, along with about 10 acres of grass near the Cheyenne Creek in rural Ellinwood. Undersheriff Bruce Green said it appeared to be a vehicle that was stolen from Russell County sometime between last Friday evening and Monday morning.
The pickup was towed to Great Bend shortly before noon. Detective Sharon Wondra from the Barton County Sheriff’s Office and a fire investigator were still examining it mid-afternoon. Green said they were attempting to check the vehicle identification numbers, which were badly damaged by the fire.
A rural Ellinwood resident reported the fire at 3:56 a.m. Wednesday. It was at NE 40 Road and NE 150 Ave. Ellinwood Fire Chief Chris Komarek said the pickup had been driven into the ditch and heat from the truck may have started the grass on fire. Firefighters were on scene for about 30 minutes.