HEIZER — A cutting torch caused a grass fire Saturday afternoon near the Mullergren Plant, about a mile from Heizer, that would take several hours to extinguish, Great Bend Fire Chief Mike Napolitano said. A small fire earlier in the day at a Great Bend residence caused little damage.
Trucks were dispatched to 335 NW 50 Ave. at 12:29 p.m. Saturday. Wind caused the fire to spread quickly and the Albert Volunteer Fire Department was called to keep it from reaching a trailer house and outbuildings, Napolitano said. “We were able to stop it before it got to those structures.”
Traffic on K-96 was halted for a short time because of the smoke, which also made it difficult for trucks to get to the fire. “There was zero visibility,” the chief said.
They spent about three hours battling the fire, and returned around 6:15 p.m. to put water on a couple of hot spots.
Firefighters were also dispatched to 2215 Jackson St. in Great Bend at 5:19 a.m. Saturday, to check on a smoke smell. They arrived to find light smoke in the residence. A reading lamp with 120 watt light bulb left on during the night caused a bed covering and mattress to smolder, Napolitano said. The light was less than one foot from the mattress.
On Monday the Barton County Commission reinstated a ban on all burning for one week.