By Corey Jones
Topeka Capital Journal – December 30, 2013
Mission Township fire vehicles are parked in front of two homes in the 6900 block of S.W. 19th Lane that were in the path of flames Saturday afternoon from a burn pile that went out of control and burned three acres.
A burn pile in the backyard of a residence just west of S.W. 21st and Urish Road got out of hand on a windy Saturday afternoon and scorched three acres of field, also nearing homes on the north edge of the flames’ reach.
Mission Township firefighters were called around 2:40 p.m. to the 6900 block of S.W. 19th Lane — a residential area west of S.W. Urish Road — on a report of an out-of-control fire threatening structures.
Assistant Fire Chief Jason Schone said crews had the flames under control in 10 to 15 minutes and out within a half hour.
No injuries were reported, and no homes were damaged.
Schone said a man was burning cardboard boxes without a permit behind his home in the 6900 block of S.W. 21st. He said southerly winds gusting at 25 mph fanned the flames and ignited the field.
The blaze threatened houses further north across the field near the intersection of S.W. 19th Lane and S.W. Valley View Court and also a bit more east and north along S.W. 18th Street.
Schone said the field fire moved to within about 40 feet of the dwelling at 6935 S.W. 19th Lane, which was as close as the flames would come to homes.
Schone said the man with the burn pile received a warning. He reminded people to always contact their local fire departments for permits before burning.
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