The Adair Fire & Rescue Department and several other local fire departments spent five hours fighting a large grass fire just off Interstate-80 yesterday evening.

Adair Fire Chief Jorden Smith tells Raccoon Valley Radio his department, along with Anita Fire & Rescue, and fire departments from Casey, Menlo, Stuart, Bridgwater, Greenfield, Fontanelle and Wiota, responded to a grass fire call around 3pm yesterday just north of I-80 near the 77.5 mile marker.

Smith says the fire ultimately spread about two miles, almost reaching the westbound rest area along the Interstate.  He says the fire burned about 50 total acres of ground and a local farmer lost about 50 hay bales.

Three firefighters sustained minor injuries as crews worked to completely extinguish the flames until about 8pm.  Two suffered from smoke inhalation and another suffered a minor cheek burn.  Smith says those men are now in good condition.

If windy conditions like the ones seen yesterday arise again this spring, Smith has advice for area residents.

“Please do not burn.  Just use common sense, and try not to do any kind of burning until it is a calmer day out.  I know there are surrounding counties that are currently in burn bans, Adair County (for example).  I don’t think Guthrie County is yet, but I just ask that everyone please be safe and not burn if possible.”

Smith says he is unsure what definitively caused yesterday’s grass fire, but he does speculate it originated from a cigarette that was tossed into the roadside ditch by a westbound car traveler.