Multiple Grass Fires In Salina Area
KSAL Staff - Fri 11:59 AM 06/29/2012
So far, no injuries or major damage from the fires
Saline County firefighters have stayed busy responding to multiple grass fires.
Fireworks went on sale Wednesday in Salina and surrounding Saline County. Before the day was out, fireworks were being blamed for two separate fires. One blaze was reported in a vacant field around 11 p.m. within the city limits. That fire spread quickly but did not cause any structural damage. In the county, Sheriff Glen Kochanowski says rural crews responded around 10:45 p.m. Wednesday to another field fire. The sheriff says it appeared that someone discharged fireworks from a
road into dry wheat stubble.
Two more fires were reported Thursday evening.
The sheriff says that at around 8:40 in the evening a discarded cigarette started a fire along South Lamer Road. That fire was quickly extinguished.
At around 10:00 a fire was started in the 1900 block of East North Street by someone allegedly discharging a roman candle firework from a moving vehicle. The person was in a small pickup truck, possibly a Ford Ranger. The truck turned around, and was joined by a car. Several people got out stomped out the fire. Both vehicles sped off when neighbors in the area approached.
A larger fire was extinguished late Friday morning along Brookville Road. A cause of that fire was not immediately available.
So far, there have not been any injuries or major damage from the fires.
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Iamgonnagetu
Friday 29 June 2012 12:33 Report this comment
Si
Iamgonnagetu
Friday 29 June 2012 12:36 Report this comment
Since the county commissioners refuse to ban outside burning and fireworks and protect county residents they need to be voted out of office. 2 are up for re-election and they should be gone the third one when he comes up.
BONEMAN
Friday 29 June 2012 13:40 Report this comment
Just remember our tax dollars pay for the water that gets supplied for the fire feighters..
THEENFORCER
Friday 29 June 2012 13:42 Report this comment
What I want to know is who has Joe Koch in their back pocket? Evidently someone does as everyone around us is putting burning and fireworks bans in place and they have had the exact same weather we have had. So why are we putting up with a guy like Koch who evidently has motives by not having the commissioners do something. I do not think if the commissioners, one a lawyer we all know about them, another an engineer and we have seen and experienced engineering problems, plus a pen and pencil pusher. Not a one of them are willing to do something and wait on a man whose counterparts have already placed bans in effect. This so stinks it is unbelievable.
THEENFORCER
Friday 29 June 2012 13:58 Report this comment
Also since we cannot depend on elected and appointed officials, I guess the solution should be to ban all fireworks from now on both in the city and the county and we will not have to worry about this ever again. Then make the penalty of having them a $10,000 fine and one year in jail. That should take care of it.
sherridb78
Friday 29 June 2012 14:00 Report this comment
Does everyone not understand that a fireworks ban is NOT going to stop these ignorant people causing these fires??? They are shooting them off illegally so why would you think they would they would abide by another law? Punish those people and leave the rest of us alone. Some of us have sense enough to enjoy the fireworks safely and only during the time that the law allows us to.
Iamgonnagetu
Friday 29 June 2012 14:59 Report this comment
I think its a great idea. Fireworks for individuals has run its coarse. They should be banned nation wide. But the penalty mentioned should take care of abuses. SHERIDB would you risk that fine and a year in jail?
getumgranny
Friday 29 June 2012 15:38 Report this comment
Obviously we cannot plan on people policing themselves!! It is sad there are a bunch of idiots that will ultimately ruin this fun for the ones that are playing by the laws and rules, but, that's the way it is. That's why we have law enforcement people and law makers, they are supposed to be protecting the community from the ones that choose to disobey. It is too dangerous to be setting off fireworks at this time, dry/hot/wind, these elements could destroy someones life in a matter of minutes. If anyone receives any property damage or injury due to the lack of control on this situation, may I suggest a hefty lawsuit against the City/County being they are seeing fit not to address the problem that would protect people from the dumba$$e$!!!
1Realist1
Friday 29 June 2012 18:13 Report this comment
REALLY, I bet all you BAN BAN BAN supporters believe that telling your kids not to smoke, drink, or have sex, works!!! Come on people for 30 + years prior to 2011 there were laws and bans in place and they didn’t work then, what makes you think they will work now??? The only thing putting a ban in effect will accomplish is putting all the Fire Works back out on the dead-end County roads where there is abundant grass / tender dry fuel, and they WILL start wild fires. I agree with our Emergency Manager, let people have their Fire Works in their own property. If they catch anything on fire it will be their own stuff, if their neighbor’s stuff gets burned then the neighbor know who to blame, and it’s not JOE KOCH.
THEENFORCER
Friday 29 June 2012 19:45 Report this comment
1realist1 if what you say is true then why do we need JOE KOCH? It's people like you that live in a dream world. Things do not work themselves out. If that were true you could say well just tell crooks not to steal over $10 and only in certain areas and they will listen right? Hmmm there is a flaw in your thinking. The point is if the penalty is severe that wipes out a whole lot of people but again there will always be people who will try to do things no matter what.
THEENFORCER
Friday 29 June 2012 19:46 Report this comment
Another note the way Mexico is invading our country in a few years there will not be a july 4th to celebrate.
KSSimNut
Friday 29 June 2012 19:56 Report this comment
Sherri I think everyone does understand. I just feel some of these posters have hidden agendas to have people voted out of office so they can retain the seat for themselves. Sure would be interesting to find out how many regular county / city bashing individuals are seeking office this term that post on this website behind the cover of absurd names.
1Realist1
Saturday 30 June 2012 07:41 Report this comment
Enforcer, the flaw is in your thinking not mine. The illegal shooting of fireworks (prior to last year)in Salina and Saline County was not done be a few radicals, there were prominent business people that would shut down entire blocks and their community would spend thousands of dollars collectively on fireworks. There are not enough Law enforcement officers in the City / County to enforce an area wide ban, and have it be effective. It would be as effective as prohibition was, it just won’t work. You can’t right laws for everything people have the ability to make good choices, and the majority will, while the few will not; the fact is you shouldn’t write laws in an attempt to cover up stupidity. If you really need to ask what we need Joe Koch for, then you probably have no idea what his job really is.
euLoGY
Saturday 30 June 2012 10:29 Report this comment
It was dryer last year then it was this year and we had minimal problems. Stop being such a bunch of grouches and recluses and trying to take away everybody's fun. Just jealous because you're all introverts and have nobody to celebrate with, so you want to take everybody's fun away.
Iamgonnagetu
Saturday 30 June 2012 12:17 Report this comment
It may have been drier last year but we had rain before July 4th and this year no rain which makes it worst. As far of Joe Koch one only needs to read his comments to see he was a very poor choice for the position he holds.
euLoGY
Saturday 30 June 2012 12:40 Report this comment
you just contradicted yourself. you just said it was drier last year... and in the same breath said it rained before july 4th... which would make it not drier. so which is it?
THEENFORCER
Saturday 30 June 2012 19:33 Report this comment
eulogy you have been posting about last year being drier than this year everywhere you can. the point they were trying to make is the fact even with the driness we got rain prior to fireworks being sold which helped fires not being so easily started. we have not had those rains therefore much easlier for a fire to start. Now do you understand where they were coming from or do you wish to continue to show your ignorance?
s4668
Friday 13 July 2012 00:50 Report this comment
I have to agree with euLoGY People need to stop blaming everything on fire works. I really like how stupid people are about a grass fire, if you ever actucally stoped and looked at the causes of grass fires in our area a year maybe a 5th of them are actucally started by fire works. Most are started by people trying to burn, A cig out the window or some type of mechanical issue on a vehicle or impliment. People really need to look at the facts before they start trying to ban things.