Grass Fire Scorches 60 Acres Near Wichita
Grass Fire Scorches 60 Acres Near Wichita
17 January 2006
published by http://www.kake.com
A grass fire scorched 60 acres of land southeast of Wichita today. The fire started in the area of 31st Street South and 143rd Street East.
It took 15 firefighters from several departments to knock down the flames and keep it from spreading to houses and other pastures. The fire put off so much smoke it was visible for miles.
Neighbors like Claude Pressnell pitched in by spraying the ditches with a home fire extinguisher until firefighters arrived. “That burning ban is needed right now. Until things get wet and spring breaks and things get green you better keep your fires, cigarettes and matches in your pocket,” Pressnell said.
Firefighters believe a vehicle driving in or near the field might have started the fire. “It appears they had been cutting some of the pasture land and making bales out of it so, called wind rows. The fire had got into that and rapidly spread that way,” said Divison Fire Chief Terry Mauldin.
Burn bans are still in plane in Ford, Harvey, Butler, Reno and Sedgwick counties.
