By TRIBUNE STAFF
RUSSELL COUNTY — Russell County Emergency Management officials noted that although 2,000 acres were burned in two fires Thursday morning, Dec. 18, only a handful of structures and residences were ever threatened and none were damaged. There were also no injures, the Russell department reported in an incident wrap-up on Saturday. Multiple fire departments and first responder agencies responded to two large grass fires in southeast Russell County on Thursday, the office reported.
Due to wind gusts reaching 70 mph by noon Thursday, electrical power lines ignited the first fire in southeast Russell County, resulting in a countywide response of all rural fire departments. A second fire was caused by a responding fire truck that crashed into a ditch near south U.S. 40 near Bunker Hill. That led to a verbal disaster declaration by the Russell County Commission and mutual aid response from Barton County and other nearby resources in the state.
Both fires were declared under control at about 5 p.m. Thursday evening. Some fire crews remained on scene to extinguish hot spots and monitor the burned area. An estimated total of 2,000 acres were burned. Departments from Ellis, Lincoln, Barton, Rice and Saline counties assisted Russell County in bringing the blaze under control.
Other Thursday activity
Thursday’s high winds prompted red-flag conditions leading to other wildfires in the state.
In Reno county, a significant grass fire near North Hutchinson burned about 500 acres. The fire department, with assistance from more than 100 firefighters across four counties, successfully contained the blaze, with voluntary evacuation orders lifted by Thursday evening. Authorities credited the pre-planning from a similar 2017 fire for the swift response. No injuries or damage to primary homes were reported, though one residence sustained minor damage, and crews assessed outbuildings the following day.
The Kansas State Fairgrounds opened to provide temporary shelter for livestock, including horses.
In Cowley County, a fire was reported and contained in the area of U.S. 77 and U.S. 160 near Winfield and Arkansas City, causing smoke issues for drivers. Crews remained on the scene in various locations throughout the night and into Friday, monitoring hot spots to prevent rekindling.
