By Vivienne Leyva
Public Information Officer
Riley County Fire District #1 was dispatched Monday afternoon to reports of a grass/brush fire near the intersection of Harmony Road and Dial Road in the extreme northeastern corner of Riley County. The fire began after a permitted prescribed burn spread out of control, according to the initial 911 report. Upon arrival, volunteer firefighters found approximately 20 acres actively burning.
Riley County Commissioners issued a disaster emergency declaration due to the fire's size and potential impact. Mutual aid was requested, and firefighting resources from Pottawatomie, Marshall, and Nemaha counties responded. The State of Kansas also deployed contracted aircraft to assist with water drops and the Dickinson County Wildland Task Force. A total of 66 personnel, 40 vehicles/apparatus, 2 planes, and 11 fire stations responded to this fire.
“After sunset, winds died down and firefighters were able to get a handle on the head fires in the riverbed,” said RCFD#1 Deputy Chief Doug Russell. “We’ve learned over the last few years to aggressively attack any fires in this area, requesting resources immediately. Thanks to everyone’s quick response and a favorable wind change, we were able to conduct back burns and get this fire under control.”An estimated 650 acres were burned in the Harmony Road Fire.
No injuries were reported and no livestock were lost. In addition, no structures were threatened by the fire and no evacuations were necessary. Today, crews RCFD#1 crews will continue to monitor conditions and watch for areas of flare up. Crews from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks are also in the area working with heavy equipment to move and consolidate piles of burning brush to isolate any remaining hot spots and prevent further spread. “We are incredibly grateful for the assistance from neighboring counties, the State of Kansas, and our dedicated volunteer firefighters,” said Russel Stukey, Fire Chief of Riley County Fire District #1 and Director of Riley County Emergency Management. “Their quick action kept a bad situation from getting worse.”Responding Agencies include:
- Blue Rapids Fire District #7
- Dickinson County Wildland Task Force
- Marshall County Emergency Management
- Nemaha County Emergency Management
- Nemaha County Fire District #3
- Pottawatomie County Consolidated Fire District #1
- Riley County Emergency Management
- Riley County Fire District #1
- State of Kansas Agencies