According to Darin Myers, Ellis County Fire Department, the fire started around 11:30 a.m. in the far northeast corner of Ellis County near Codell Road. Kansas State Fire Marshal Mark Engholm says the wildfire burned southeast through grass and brush. Ellis County Fire reports mutual aid was requested from fire departments in Russell, Rooks, Trego, Lincoln, and Osborne counties, and the Hays Fire Department. Public works provided water trucks, fuel, graders and supervisors. Two tankers from the Kansas Forest Service provided aerial assistance and made 11 trips to drop water on the fire. The fire was under control around 6:30 p.m. Crews stayed on the scene until midnight to put out hot spots. Crews will monitor the sites for hot spots on Friday. Ellis County says the fire burnt approximately 1,750 acres, was nearly 5 miles long, and about a third-mile wide. One vacant structure was burned. There were no injuries reported. Engholm originally stated the fire burned through around 6,000 acres but later clarified the acreage.
Source: KSN-TV
