Apr 06, 2021

Update: Crews continue to fight grass fire in Rice County

Posted Apr 06, 2021 10:25 AM
Fire on Sunday evening in Rice County -photo courtesy Kansas Forest Service
Fire on Sunday evening in Rice County -photo courtesy Kansas Forest Service

RICE COUNTY —Crews continued to monitor hot spots on a large wildfire in rural Rice County overnight.

The fire was 50-60 percent contained as of 5 p.m. Monday, according to Rice County Emergency Management Director Greg Klein. The wind was expected to change direction Tuesday.

Just over 1800 acres have burned.

The fire started from a controlled burn that had been done Saturday on a quarter section of land northeast of Nickerson.

There were no injuries reported, according to dispatch early Tuesday.

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RICE COUNTY—Crews continue to battle a large fire in rural Rice County that started as a controlled burn Saturday, before going out of control on Sunday.

The biggest challenge for fire crews in the wind Monday was working to contain the north edge of the fire at approximately Avenue T between 27th and 29th, according Rice County Emergency Management Director Greg Klein.  The fire is 50-60 percent contained, but the wind is expected to shift again Tuesday. 

The fire started from a controlled burn that had been done Saturday on a quarter section of land northeast of Nickerson.

Klein still estimates approximately 1800 acres burned.  Fire crews also did a controlled burn on 360 acres early Monday in anticipation winds they are fighting Monday.

There are no injuries reported.

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RICE COUNTY—Crews continue to battle a large fire in rural Rice County.

The fire was first reported just after 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, according to Rice County Emergency Management Director Greg Klein.  The fire started from a controlled burn that had been done Saturday on a quarter section of land northeast of Nickerson.

Some 1800 acres have burned as of 5:30 a.m. Monday and fire crews also did a controlled burn on 360 acres overnight in anticipation of winds in the weather forecast for Monday afternoon, according to Klein.

Roads in the area are open as fire crews continue monitoring a lot of hot spots and a half a mile of fire was still burning.  Possibly one outbuilding but no other structures have burned. Klein reported no injuries.

Fire crews from Sterling, Alden Chase, Geneseo, Windom, Little River, Marquette, Hutchinson, Nickerson, So. Hutch and Tanker 95 from the Kansas Forest Service are among those assisting.

McPherson County sheriff's deputies were assisting with traffic control on the county line at Plum and Buckskin Road until early Monday.

Buckskin or Ave V  that runs from just south of Inman west towards Sterling was closed temporarily while fire crews worked.