ROD ZOOK
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. —Hutchinson Fire crews worked throughout the afternoon and overnight Tuesday fighting two major brush fires east of the city. The first fire was called in around 23rd and Obee Road near the airport. The fire burned all the way to 30th before it was stopped.
While crews were taking care of that fire, another fire erupted at 30th and Willison near where last week's fire started. The fire quickly jumped over 30th and threatened a number of homes in the area. Fire crews were able to keep the fire from getting to any of the residences. The fire was stopped after about a half a mile north of 30th.
Hutchinson Fire Chief Steve Beer says the fire was substantial in size.
“We had flames 60 to 70 feet tall,” beer said. “We do have some structure damage on the Linksland Fire (near Prairie Dunes) and so we are working to assess that damage.”
Both the Linksland Fire and the other fire, now designated the Willison Fire, started from smoldering brush piles.
There were multiple brush piles that were burned two weeks ago Thursday when there was snow on the ground,” Beer said. “Even two weeks later, these brush piles kick up embers. When the relative humidity is at 20% and 40 mile per hour winds it’s just a recipe for disaster.”
Beer says farmers need to better tend to the debris piles to prevent what happened today and last week.
“These trees are anywhere from six inches to two feet in diameter and so these are deep seated piles of ash that are burning for months,” Beer said. “These piles have to be turned every other day if you're going to put these things out. Unfortunately, some landowners choose to just light them on fire and they just inspect them and don’t turn them and we get into these types of situations.”
Fortunately, there were no injuries but there has been some damage. Beer says an assessment of the damage will come later Wednesday.
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