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Area Fire Crews Battling Blaze at Cimarron National Grasslands UPDATE: 7:30pm Wednesday

KSCB News - May 8, 2011 7:17 pm

UPDATE: Wednesday 7:30pmThe Tunner Fire, located in Morton County, KS on the Cimarron National Grassland is currently under investigation. The fire size is 17,482 acres which includes 1,935 acres of private land.

The fire located 4 miles north of Elkhart, KS. is 95% contained. Additional demobilization will take place on Thursday. The fire will be turned over to a Type 4 Incident Commander Thursday morning.

The public is not encouraged to travel within the Cimarron River corridor due to extreme hazards that have not been completely assessed. This area includes the Turkey Trail, Race Track and the Cimarron Recreation Area. Specialists will be arriving soon to assess the rehabilitation needs of the areas affected by the fire.

The firefighters would like to thank the public for their cooperation during this incident and for the wonderful food that has been delivered to Cimarron District office.

UPDATE: Tuesday 9:00pm

Elkhart, Kan., May 10, 2011 – The Tunner Fire, located in Morton County, KS on the Cimarron National Grassland is currently under investigation. The U.S. Forest Service – Pike and San Isabel National Forests, Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands (PSICC) have officials on site. The fire has been mapped using GPS with a more accurate size of 17,482 acres. The fire has held within the established perimeter.

The fire located 4 miles north of Elkhart, KS. has 10 federal & state engines and one hand crew still on site. The fire is 95% contained. Some demobilization will start on Wednesday. It is expected that the fire will be turned over to local control on Thursday. The fire will transition over to a Type4 Incident Commander.

The public is not encouraged to travel within the fire area due to the heavy fire traffic. The Cimarron Recreation Area remains closed to the public due to many hazardous trees that can fall without warning. The firefights would like to thank the public for their cooperation during this incident and for the wonderful food that has been delivered to Cimarron District office.

UPDATE Tuesday 11:00am

The Tunner Fire, located in Morton County, KS on the Cimarron National Grassland is currently under investigation. The U.S. Forest Service – Pike and San Isabel National Forests, Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands (PSICC) have officials on site. The fire is approximately 20,000 acres in size. The fire has held within the established perimeter.

This fire is located 4 miles north of Elkhart, KS. There are 10 federal & state engines from Kansas, Colorado, South Dakota, Oklahoma & New Mexico and one hand crew from Colorado are on site. The fire is 50% contained. There is another red flag warning issued for today from noon to 9:00 pm. This could create low visibility with blowing sand and ash within the fire.

The public is not encouraged to travel within the fire area due to the heavy fire traffic. The Cimarron Recreation Area is closed to the public due to many hazardous trees that can fall without warning. Individuals may find updates on this fire and other incidents at http://www.inciweb.org/

Update 8:00pm Monday

The Tunner Fire, located in Morton County, KS on the Cimarron National Grassland is currently under investigation. The U.S. Forest Service – Pike and San Isabel National Forests, Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands (PSICC) have officials on site. The fire has grown to approximately 20,000 acres in size, and is burning in grass and brush. This fire is located 3 miles north of Elkhart, KS. There are several federal engines on and one hand crew on site. A Type 3 Incident Commander has been taken over the fire.

Residents should be aware of heavy fire traffic in the area. The Cimarron Recreation Area is closed due to hazardous trees. Individuals may find updates on this fire and other incidents at www.inciweb.org

Update: 10:25am Monday:

The Tunner Fire, located in Morton County, KS on the Cimarron National Grassland is currently under investigation. The U.S. Forest Service – Pike and San Isabel National Forests, Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands (PSICC) have officials on site. The fire has grown to approximately 19,000 acres in size, and is burning in grass and brush. The fire behavior is considered extreme at this time. This fire is located 3 miles north of Elkhart, KS. There are 3 federal engines on site, and the U.S. Forest Service is working with local counties and cooperators to suppress this fire. A Type 3 Incident Commander has been ordered among other resources.Residents should be aware of heavy fire traffic in the area. Individuals may find updates on this fire and other incidents at www.inciweb.org

UPDATE: 10:00pm

UPDATE 9:00pm Morton County law enforcement reports battling a large grass fire that started four miles north of Elkhart this afternoon.

The report of the fire reached officials around 1:00 p.m. Sunday.

Law enforcement reports that the fire is not under control at this time and has grown to 10,000 acres in size.

Surrounding counties are assisting Morton fire crews with the blaze.

Morton County law enforcement reports battling a large grass fire that started four miles north of Elkhart this afternoon.

The report of the fire reached officials around 1:00 p.m. Sunday.

Law enforcement reports that the fire is not under control at this time.

Surrounding counties are assisting Morton fire crews with the blaze.

Firefighters are battling a blaze burning through an estimated 10,000 acres of grass and brush on the Cimarron National Grassland about three miles north of Elkhart, Kansas in Morton County.

The Tunner Fire, on the Cimarron National Grassland located in the southwest corner of Kansas, is currently under investigation with officials calling the behavior of the fire "extreme." The U.S. Forest Service, Pike and San Isabel National Forests, Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands all have officials at the site. Three federal engines are also on site in an effort to contain the fire.

Residents are told to expect heavy fire traffic in the area. To check out updates and find out more information about the blaze go to www.inciweb.org

KAKE News

 

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