Crews found one person dead after a car fire that touched off a grass fire in southeastern Reno County.
The fire was reported around 2:30 p.m. Friday in the area of Riverview Drive and Parallel Road, north of the Cheney Reservoir.
The Reno County Sheriff’s Office said there were reports of a car driving in and out of a ditch. The car got stuck and a female passenger jumped out. The driver tried to get the car out of the ditch, but it caught fire. Bystanders tried to get him out but they were unable to get to him. The car then exploded and became fully involved in flames.
One bystander was injured trying to get the driver out of the car, and that person was getting medical treatment. The name of the driver has not been released.
Grass fires have been reported across south central Kansas with hot and dry conditions expected to continue through the weekend. Crews in Sedgwick County were battling a large grass fire near K-96 and Ridge Road, and some exit ramps were closed for a time Friday morning.
