Multiple Fire Departments Respond to Large Grass Fire Thursday in Ellis County

Multiple fire departments and emergency personnel from multiple counties, including Russell, responded to a large grass fire Thursday afternoon in Ellis County.

State Fire Marshal Mark Engholm said he was on scene at the fire, which burned in northeast Ellis County north of Hays. More specifically, the fire was located in a rural area south of Codell and north of Emmeram.

Engholm said the fire burned rapidly to the southeast through around 2,000 acres of grass and brush, damaging one structure.

Ellis County Fire and Emergency Management received mutual aid assistance from multiple counties and water drops from air tankers contracted through the Kansas Forest Service.

(Information and photo courtesy State Fire Marshal Mark Engholm.)