MARION COUNTY —Wednesday's fire in portions of rural Marion and Chase County destroyed 4-5,000 acres, according to Randy Frank, Emergency Management Director for Marion County.
The fire started just after 2p.m. when strong winds rekindled a week-old fire north of the small Marion County community of Burns. The winds pushed the blaze all the way to near Cedar Point in Chase County, according to Frank.
Fire crews were able to protect seven homes. Two homes were destroyed in the fire. Frank contacted the Kansas Forest Service and they sent an air tanker to make three drops on the blaze. "That was extremely helpful in stopping the fire since it is difficult for trucks to reach some of the areas in the Flint Hills that were on fire," he said.
Seven different fire crews from three counties helped fight the fire. There were no injures, according to Frank.