FINNEY COUNTY —Fire crews responded to report of a large wheat field on fire just before 2:30p.m. Monday afternoon in northern Finney County.
Upon arrival, crews found a large grass fire in a grass pasture rapidly growing and spreading towards the houses on Quarterhorse Road, according to a media release.
The fire was in a CRP grass field approximately 300 acres in size with another grass field approximately 300 acres in size to the north. Crews also observed approximately 1500 acres of uncut wheat to the east, a circle of uncut wheat and 2 more houses to the northeast, and more uncut wheat directly north.
Finney County Sheriffs advised they would be evacuating 5 houses in possible danger.
Authorities contacts Holcomb County Fire Department, Garfield Township, and Scott County Fire Department. The request for assistance supplied an additional 11 brush trucks, Tenders from the county arrived, and approximately 10 tractors with discs arrived on scene to help contain and control the spread of the fire.
Due to the large size, dry fuel, and wind conditions, crews worked with Finney County Emergency Manager to get a local declaration signed and sent to the state. After Governor Laura Kelly issued a State of Disaster Emergency and signed the declaration, two planes from Tri-State Rotor were dispatched and used to help control this fire. Kansas Forest Service also dispatched at that time.
The two aircraft dropped a total of 3times each and would refill water at the Garden City Regional Airport with assistance from Garden City Firefighters.
Kansas Forest Service called this fire under control just after 4:30p.m. An estimate of damage and cause of the fire are unknown at this time.