We have more information regarding the rural Guthrie County field fire we first reported on earlier this afternoon.
Stuart Fire Chief Gary Fox tells Raccoon Valley Radio that the fire near the intersection of 330th Street and Ute Avenue between Stuart and Menlo started after high winds sparked a still-burning fire that had been started the day prior by a nearby homeowner.
Fox says the homeowner started a fire Tuesday afternoon to burn bales of hay on his farm and had thought the flames were completely out.
Due to the 30-plus mile per hour winds earlier this afternoon, Fox says the fire burned between 100 and 150 acres of corn stalks and standing grass. The high winds also made it extremely difficult for the more than 50 firemen on-scene to fully extinguish the flames.
In all, Fox says the firefight took about five hours, with final crews eliminating the last lingering “hot spots” at about 7:30pm.
Stuart Fire and Rescue and Adair, Casey, Dexter, Menlo and Panora fire departments all responded to the scene, with Fox saying it is “great to have other departments you can rely on and have your back.”
Fox says there are no injuries to report and no structures were affected by the flames.