By SALINA POST
BURR OAK - In the midst of a red flag warning for fire danger Tuesday afternoon, a hot spot on radar was the first indication of a grassland fire in northwestern Jewell County.
At approximately 1:40 p.m. Tuesday, an employee of the National Weather Service in Hastings, Neb., alerted Jewell County dispatch that a hot spot had been seen on radar approximately three miles west of Burr Oak, the Jewell County Sheriff's Office reported in a news release issued late this morning.
The National Weather Service's Hastings, Neb., office's coverage area includes Jewell County.
Burr Oak volunteer fire fighters responded to the blaze, which spread quickly because of the high winds. Winds from the south to southwest at 20 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 45 mph, and relative humidity as low as 14 percent were forecast for the area Tuesday afternoon.
A view of the smoke plume on the National Weather Service's Hastings, Neb., radar as the fire moved to the north of Burr Oak:
Because the fire was growing rapidly due to the windy conditions, the Burr Oak volunteer firefighters requested assistance and numerous other fire departments from Kansas and Nebraska responded.
"There were no fatalities, 1 minor injury," the Jewell County Sheriff's Office noted in the release. "It is unknown at this time of the amount of personal property that has been damaged."
The origin of the fire is currently is unknown, according to the release.
"Jewell County Emergency Preparedness Director Kevin Peroutek would like to thank all the fire departments that assisted and to the Burr Oak Community who prepared and donated food and water," the sheriff's office reported in the release.