Geary County rural fire crews responded to three separate fire calls Tuesday afternoon, all happening within the span of about an hour.
In a post on its Facebook page, the department said crews responded to a call at around 2:40 p.m. after welding on a fence sparked a large grass fire along Old Highway 13. Strong winds pushed the fire eastward, igniting more than 150 large hay bales, according to officials. Firefighters received mutual aid from Alta Vista Rural Fire and Riley County Fire District No. 1. Their efforts helped spare an additional 150 to 200 hay bales from the flames.
About an hour later, crews responded to a rekindle of a fire from last week near Old Highway 77 and Range Road. As units were clearing both scenes, firefighters were then initially called out to a possible vehicle fire on Interstate 70, west of Junction City, but were called off when law enforcement arrived first and confirmed there was no fire.
Fire officials are reminding the public to check all previous burns and have water close by if they rekindle.
