By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
Area fire crews were called back to a fire north of Hays Monday after the conditions caused a previous fire to reignite.
According to Ellis County Emergency Manager and Assistant Fire Chief Lyle Pantle, fire crews responded to the area near the intersection of Hyacinth Ave. and North County Line Rd. two different times Monday.
Pantle said crews were initially called to the area Sunday where they were able to extinguish the fire by about 9 p.m. The wind and smoldering debris likely caused the fire to rekindled Monday morning. Crews responded to the area at approximately 11:30 a.m. and were on scene until about 1 p.m.
About 30 minutes, later crews were paged back to the area, according to Pantle, after the property operator noticed a new area had rekindled.
Pantle said the rekindled area was much larger than the first area.
Rooks County crews were called in to assist because some of the area is in Rooks County.
Crews from both Ellis and Rooks Counties stayed on scene for several hours to ensure the fire did not reignite.
Pantle said the fire grew to a total area, including the previous night and the new area, to approximately 250 acres. No damage to structures or equipment was found. The area is mainly open range and wheat stubble.
Approximately 15 Ellis County Fire Department 15 personnel reported to the scene with six fire apparatus. Seven members of the Rooks County Fire Department staffed four apparatus.