Mutual aid, air strikes called in fight to control massive grass fire spreading through NE Wichita

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – Update, 17:45: The airstrike from Tanker 95 with the Kansas Forest Service is assisting field crews in fighting a large grass fire that started Thursday afternoon near 29th Street North and Greenwich in northeast Wichita. Strong south winds pushed the fire north into Sedgwick County.

Multiple departments joined the fray Thursday evening, providing assistance to crews from Wichita and Sedgwick County fire departments. With the assistance of the air tanker above, mutual aid on the field included the Andover Fire Department, a Butler County Fire Department crew from Benton, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and the Sedgwick County EMS team.

No injuries were reported, but close calls for homes and businesses included at least one evacuation, including the Pet Resort near 29th Street in Sydney and Greenwich.

Wichita firefighters are on the scene of a large grass fire in the area of K-96 and North Greenwich Road. The fire forced the closure of Greenwich on 29th Street.

The wind is pushing the fire north into the county. Looking towards the affected area, a dark wall of smoke and dust can be seen in the air.

As of 5 p.m., Sedgwick County emergency crews said there were no reports of injuries. It is unknown how many homes and businesses may be affected and to what extent. At least one business, Pet Resort in Sydney, was evacuated and urged pet owners to pick up their dogs. In a post on Facebook a little after 4 p.m., the business said it was unable to return phone calls.

Meanwhile, the Stryker Sports Complex, near where the fire is believed to have started, remained open Thursday evening. The effort to contain the fire as it moved north into Sedgwick County included assistance through an aerial fire attack by Tanker 95 in conjunction with the Kansas Forest Service.