Residents of a small southwest Kansas town are back in their homes after a grass fire that forced their evacuation was contained.
The 1,200 residents of Satanta in Haskell County were evacuated Sunday afternoon as firefighters worked to contain a grass fire fed by strong winds. One person and a sheriff's deputy suffered minor smoke inhalation.
The Haskell County Sheriff's Department says the fire burned appox. 9,600 acres. The fire destroyed one home, two unoccupied trailers, and a dozen outbuildings.
Fire crews were sent out to contain hot spots Monday morning. Blowing sand and winds continue to be a problem for fire crews.
A bridge belonging to Cimarron Valley Railroad, located west of Satanta just north of Highway 56 was destroyed by the fire. The railroad still has to assess the extent of the damage to the rest of the track that runs through Stevens and Haskell Counties.
The Kansas Highway Patrol says most of the evacuated residents went to Sublette, with about 40 residents of a nursing home taken to Garden City.
When the wind shifted Sunday evening and dropped the temperatures about 20 degrees, firefighters were able to control the blaze.
Satanta District Hospital says the hospital, clinics its emergency room are again operating as usual. The Long Term Care Unit is being cleaned and prepared for the return of its residents. Hospital officials say residents will not be returning to the facility until tomorrow.
The cause of the fire has not been determined.Red Cross says they have helped nearly 250 people affected by the fire. This included helping three families with food, shelter and clothing after the loss of their homes.
