Area fire departments battled temperatures well into the 100s and tinder dry conditions in a running fight with a wind-whipped wheat stubble fire in western Barton County Friday afternoon.
The thermometer read 112 degrees and the southerly gusts were clocked at 21 miles per hour as firefighters from Albert, Bison, Great Bend, Larned and Pawnee Rock took on the blaze, which started at around 3:30 p.m. near the intersection of Southwest 130 Avenue and Southwest 30 Road. This is about five miles northwest of Pawnee Rock and a mile away from Pawnee County line.
By 4:30 p.m., the fire had swept across north across a half section, leaving scorched farm land in its path. “It burned across the whole mile,” Barton County Sheriff Office Lt. Brian Bellendir said.
That happened in pretty short order, too, he said. “It really moved across that first mile.”
By 5 p.m., firefighters had pretty much halted the fire’s advance at Southwest 20 Road. But, as soon as a hot spot was doused, it would reignite.
Firemen standing atop brush trucks, plowed through the rolling, brownish gray smoke. They sprayed the flames as fast as they could.
In addition to the heat and wind, “a big problem is keeping them supplied with water,” Bellendir said.
The remoteness of the fire hindered the effort to bring water to the scene. The location also hampered radio communications.
As the crews fought the fire, area farmers worked their ground so that it would be less susceptible to burning.
Bellendir said the blaze started along side Southwest 30 Road in a shelter belt. Although authorities don’t know the cause for sure, he said it was likely smoking materials tossed from a passing vehicle or sparks from heated vehicle brakes.
The origin was near an abandoned house and surrounding buildings. The structures were saved by the Pawnee Rock department, which was the first on the scene.
It would be difficult to put a dollar figure on the loss, Bellendir said. The fire was confined mostly to wheat stubble and milo. There were also some trees destroyed.
Crews were at the scene into the evening. Great Bend firefighters returned to the station at about 8 p.m. However, Great Bend Fire Chief Mike Napolitano said some of his units returned for a time Saturday after some trees and Conservation Reserve Program grass ignited.
More information will be available Monday.