Large Fire at the Reno County Landfill Friday Evening Reportedly Caused by Unspent Fireworks
Hutchinson firefighters responded to the Reno County Landfill at 703 S. Mohawk for a large fire in the pit on Friday evening.
There they discovered a 40-foot area on fire that was spreading rapidly due to high winds.
Fire crews began large water operation to contain the fire and prevent it from damaging the liner and methane walls, hauling water from Mohawk Road with assistance from Reno County Fire Districts 3 and 8.
Crews and landfill staff then began moving the burning trash to a different part of the landfill and covering it with dirt. The Hutchinson Fire Department, South Hutchinson Police Dept., and Reno County Sheriff’s Dept. brought light towers to assist with night operations.
Fire heavily damages Pretty Prairie teacher s home
PRETTY PRAIRIE – Fire officials suspect an electrical short caused a house fire in Pretty Prairie Friday afternoon that killed three pets.
A passerby who spotted smoke coming from the small single-story Bungalow-style home at 418 E. Main called it in about 12:15 p.m., said Fire Chief Rick Grabber.
“It started in the kitchen,” Grabber said. “We’re classifying it as accidental electrical.”
It appears, he said, that the fire started around an outlet with a plug-in room deodorizer.
“It’s an older house, with older wiring,” he said.
Firefighters entered the home and quickly knocked down the fire, but firefighters had to cut a hole through the roof to ventilate it and let out the heat and smoke.
The Hutchinson News
Fire officials reported the Beer and Ice wildfires are now 95% contained.
In an online post, Hutchinson Fire Chief Steven Beer stated final containment of the two fires that burned nearly 1,000 acres in portions of northern and eastern Reno County won’t be declared until they see what forecasted strong winds on Friday do.
“We have been preparing the last two days for the wind switch and increased wind speed,” Beer stated. “We believe we have the fire lines secured to handle this change in weather. Fire crews will continue to work and monitor both fires.”
Friday’s forecast calls for sustained winds of up to 31 mph in the afternoon, and gusts over 40 mph.