HARVEY COUNTY — Over 5,000 acres of Harvey County land was burned over the weekend in a fire large enough to get a name and show up on the public fire information page of the U.S. Forest Service.
The initial call to Harvey County Communications on what firefighters are calling the Wheat State Fire was received at 12:44 p.m. Saturday. The call reported a grass fire in pastureland.
No injuries occurred as a result of the fire, and just minor damage to one outbuilding happened as a result of the blaze that started near Northwest 48th Street and North Burmac Road, southeast of Buhler. The cause of the fire has not been determined.
The Kansas Forest Service and over 150 firefighters from all across central Kansas battled most of the weekend to control the fire.
Original story:
Emergency responders battled a grass fire near Northwest 48th Street and North Burmac Road, southeast of Buhler on Saturday afternoon, according to public information officer for Harvey County Kyle McCaskey.
The initial call to Harvey County Communications was received at 12:44 p.m. The call reported a grass fire in pastureland. About 700 acres of land had burned as of 3:30 p.m Saturday.
No injuries or damage to structures have been reported at this time. However, emergency responders are prioritizing protecting structures in the area, according to McCaskey.
Continued strong, gusty winds are providing additional challenges for first responders. Roads in the area are closed to traffic. Individuals are asked to avoid the area.
The cause of the fire has not been determined.
Several agencies have responded to the scene, including fire departments from Burrton, Cheney, Halstead, Hesston, Moundridge, Mount Hope, Reno County and Walton, as well as the Kansas Forest Service.