Great Bend Post
Thursday's Red Flag Warning, issued by the National Weather Service in Wichita, for the Eagle Media listening area and the rest of Western Kansas, proved to be no joke. A semi blew over on the K-156 overpass near Claflin with no injuries reported, and large fires spread across Russell and Reno Counties.
Dry conditions and wind gusts between 45 and 70 miles per hour Thursday prompted the Red Flag warning. I-70 between Goodland and Colby was shut down several times due to poor visibility in the region.
A semi-truck blew over into a ditch shortly before noon. No injuries were reported and the highway remained at least partially open while first responders worked the accident.
A large grass fire was reported in Russell County just after noon. Mutual aid from several fire departments in five counties, including Great Bend, was used to help control that blaze eight miles southwest of Bunker Hill. Just before 4 p.m., the fire was controlled enough to send outside responders home.
An even more pressing fire burned approximately 500 acres in Reno County as of Thursday evening. An evacuation order was put into place for the area north of 56th Avenue near Hutchinson. That order remained in effect Thursday evening though officials said the fire was under control. No injuries or damage to homes was reported. USD 313 Buhler evacuated Plum Creek Elementary to Cross Point Church during the fire. Parents were able to pick up their students from the church.