By Anthony Gorges
Little Apple Post
At 10:30 a.m. this past Saturday, the Geary County Rural Fire Department was dispatched to a metal shed on fire call on K177 approximately four miles south of I-70. Wabaunsee County Fire and Alta Vista City Fire arrived on the scene first and began suppression of the fire. When Geary County Rural Fire arrived on the scene, firefighters assisted with suppression of the fire and also set up water operations. Riley County, Council Grove, and Dwight Fire Departments brought water to the scene. A total of five different departments responded to assist with the fire.
Assistant Fire Chief for Geary County Curt Janke said the State Fire Marshall was called in for an investigation. The cause of the fire is undetermined. The fire originated on the east end of the shed, the maintenance area. Chemicals such as Roundup and 2,4-D were in the building.
The shed was considered a total loss. A pick-up burned up from the fire. The scene was cleared by 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.
** On Saturday, one Alta Vista City firefighter was transported to Morris County Hospital for heat exhaustion and dehydration. That firefighter has been treated and released.
On Sunday at 7:30 p.m., Geary County was dispatched to the same location because the fire had rekindled. (Alta Vista City and County both responded again as well). Heavy black smoke was coming from the area. A power pole that had burned on Saturday rekindled the fire. On Sunday, the fire burned up grass, nearby vehicles, old abandoned tires, and hay bales.
Geary County Rural Fire Chief Garry Berges was on the call and said the scene was cleared by 9:30 p.m. Sunday.
“It was good teamwork by everyone involved,” Berges said. “Everyone knew their role and there was good cooperation by all departments.”
