UPDATE: While working on the site yesterday morning, Ellis County Landfill employees discovered a fire about 10:15 a.m. They also found a downed power line in the field north of the landfill, which is located along 55th Street north of Hays.
Emergency responders and Midwest Energy were notified.
Rural Fire Chief Darin Myers said the fire, driven by 25 mph northerly winds, traveled south down into a draw, crossed 55th Street and continued into a wooded area.
Fire crews stopped the blaze about 100 yards before it reached Interstate 70, according to Myers. The smoke caused low visibility on the interstate and traffic was slowed by the Kansas Highway Patrol.
Hot spots were a challenge because of the many downed trees that continued smoldering.
Rural firefighters from Hays, Victoria, Catherine, Munjor and Ellis responded.
The Hays Fire Department also responded to the northwest edge of Hays to help protect the homes within the city limits if the fire were to have crossed I-70, which it did not. The Hays Police Department and other sheriff’s deputies were also on site to help with evacuation notices if needed.
The fire was declared under control about noon and crews remained on scene checking hot spots until about 2:15 p.m.
Myers says the fire burned 30 acres of grass and brush. There were no injuries or structures lost in the fire.
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Ellis County rural firefighters and other emergency responders are on the scene of a grass fire near the Ellis County Landfill, 1515 W. 55th, north of Hays.
The smoke is blowing to the south driven by 25 mph wind from the north. Visibility on Interstate 70 is limited and the Kansas Highway Patrol has slowed traffic.
Check Hays Post for more as more details become available.