8 April 2024
EMPORIA (KSNT) – Crews are battling fires that are causing blackout visibility conditions for vehicles driving on I-35. The conditions caused a crash due to thick smoke.
At 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, the Emporia Fire Department was called to I-35 north of Emporia for a grass fire that was reported in the median. While crews were working the fire they received multiple other calls for fires along I-35 between mile markers 138 and 142, according to a press release from the City of Emporia.
One fire near mile marker 140 had spread to the north side of I-35. Several structures were in immediate danger. The resident and their pets were evacuated, according to the press release.
I-35 is being rerouted by the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, Emporia Police Department and the Kansas Highway Patrol, according to the press release.
“The extreme fire conditions were created by the low humidity and strong winds, with gusts over 40 mph,” the press release said. “Fire units encountered access issues due to fences and the landscape consisting of numerous trees and tall grass.”
One driver was reportedly in a crash with a fire apparatus due to the thick smoke. Nobody was injured and the driver left the scene.
The following properties have been affected by the fires:
1744 Road W
2017 Road 175
2033 Road 175
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