Only two fire calls, despite dry weather

The Imperial Volunteer Fire Department (IVFD) responded to a pair of fire calls last week.
Crews responded July 2 around 2 p.m. to land owned by Bill Greeley in northeast Chase County for a hay bale fire.
“We got it put out pretty quickly with Bill’s help,” IVFD Chief Doug Mitchell said. “By the time we got out there he had them all spread out.”
Cause of the fire in uncertain, but Greeley was mowing around the bales and Mitchell suspects a hot exhaust or sparks ignited the bales.
Friday at 8:40 p.m., crews responded to a pasture fire near 741 Road and 329 Avenue.
Kyle Odens is the farm manager of the property.
“It wasn’t too bad,” Mitchell said. “Maybe five to seven acres burned.”
Crews made it back to town by about 9:30 and the fireworks show—supposed to start at 9:15—started about 10 p.m.
“So about an hour late is all,” Mitchell added.
Dry conditions
While there were only two small fires near the Fourth of July, Mitchell still urges residents to be careful with the heat and dry conditions.
“The people that were doing fireworks were either being very careful or we just got lucky,” Mitchell said.
“It’s going to be very hot for about the next two weeks,” he added. “The fire danger will be really high.”