HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Fire Department continues to put out hot spots and deal with a small number of burning trees connected to the Cottonwood Complex fire.
Hutchinson Fire Chief Steve Beer says all other task forces and mutual aid crews have been released from the fire, which tore through northeastern Reno County Saturday killing one person and destroying more than 100 buildings, including 35 homes. He also said that crews are getting through extinguishing trees and hot spots faster than expected and could have the fire fully contained in a couple of days.
Emergency Management Director Adam Weishaar says nearly all of the homes destroyed were in an area from 4th Avenue to an area around 17th Avenue and from Victory to Clydesdale. Beer says a digital map was being put together to outline the fire and show where buildings were damaged or destroyed.
An adjuster from the Kansas Forest Service has been brought in to put together all of the financial numbers for the fire department, including costs for damaged or lost equipment, man-hours and costs for mutual aid. Beer hopes that this kind of cost breakdown will allow them to better recoup their expenses and losses when they make a request to FEMA for reimbursement.