HUTCHINSON, Kan. — 10:36 p.m. Crews are battling another structure fire along Worthington Rd. One home has already been destroyed by fire and a third damaged. No word on the extent of this fire but numerous crews are on the scene.
10:05 p.m. Crews continue to deal with a stubborn area north of 30th along Woodberry. Crews hope the Little Arkansas River will help stop that fire, but the cold front is very near now and winds are expected to shift to the north and gust as high as 50 MPH. Crews from Reno, Barton, McPherson, Sedgwick, and Rice Counties are all involved. Harvey County Continues to deal with a very large fire that has forced numerous evacuations including Harvey County West Park.
9:39 p.m. Hutchinson Fire Chief Kim Forbes reports the fire has burned more than 3,500 acre and at least one home was destroyed in the blaze with one more damaged. Officials are still very concerned about the pending switch n the winds which could gust between 40 and 50 MPH when the approaching cold front passes. Six counties have responded fire crews or law enforcement to help with the fire. Crews are expected to be out all night and well into Thursday fighting the fire. No injuries have been reported.
8:58 p.m. Fire crews are being brought to relieve those who have now been at the fire for over six hours. The fire stretches from Rayle Rd. east to Sand Hill Rd. in Harvey County, and between 60th and 1st Aveneues going north and south. Many of those evacuated in Harvey County are being sheltered at Burrton High School and Harvey County has set up their emergency command post in Burrton. Westar has been called in to deal with two downed power lines along Mayfied Rd. between 4th and 17th Avenues. Some small buildings have been lost but it appears no major structural damage has been reported.
8:33 p.m. Residents are asking if they can return to their homes in the fire area
and are being told that it will be through the night before they are allowed back into the fire area. Also Westar is being called in to deal with downed power lines around 17th and Worthington. Crews are also having a hard time getting to some fires because of the Little Arkansas River.
8:20 p.m. Fire continues to be a problem between 4 th and 43rd and Rayle and Burmac Rds. Fire crews are trying to position themselves for the approaching cold front which will bring a significant change in wind direction. One larger problem area appears to be around 17th and Woodbury.
Fire crews are also having to deal with the soft sandy conditions which is causing a number of trucks to become stuck. Fuel is also being brought in for the trucks and more crews are being brought in from McPherson County. A command post has been set up at Cottonwood Hills and all residents evacuated from Harvey County are being sheltered in Burrton.
Fire crews from four counties continue to battle a large brush fire that has now spread well into Harvey County.
The fire started around 2:40 p.m. in an area just east of the Cottonwood Hills development near Worthington Road. It is now near River park Rd between 60th Avenue and 1st Ave. which is northeast of Burrton.
Many township and county roads are being closed or heavily restricted due to smoke and heavy emergency traffic. Crews from Harvey, Reno, Rice and McPherson Counties have been called in. Many homes are being evacuated in around the Pete’s Puddle area and Harvey County West Park. Crews from Reno County continue to battle the fire between 43rd and 4th Avenue and from Buhler Rd to Burmac in Harvey County.
There was one report of a structure fire near 4th and Rayle Road earlier this evening but to what extent is unknown.
Many roads from Buhler/ Haven Rd east to River Park in Harvey County and from 82nd to US-50 are closed due to heavy fire and the large amount of emergency vehicle traffic in the area.