A fire broke out on the southern side of Interstate 135 on Thursday, February 29, causing significant concern among local residents and authorities alike. As of now, the cause of the blaze remains undetermined. Strong winds exacerbated the situation, leading the fire to leap across the road. Miraculously, it was halted just shy of engulfing a stretch of nearly 2 miles.
The destructive force of the flames damaged a stock trailer valued at $3,000, along with a substantial loss of hay bales and fence posts. Additionally, one household experienced a power outage due to the incident.
In response to the emergency, all six Saline County Rural Fire Districts responded, along with Ada, Ottawa, Lincoln, RHZ, and the City of Salina, promptly mobilizing. Moreover, air support from Minneapolis lent crucial assistance in tackling the blaze from the sky. The alarm was raised at 12:19 pm, and by 4:30 pm, firefighting crews were actively engaged in containment efforts.
