by KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

An investigator from the state fire marshal’s office is on his way to Hays for the second consecutive week after 10 fires occurred outside of Hays last night.

According to  Ellis County rural fire director Dick Klaus,  fire crews responded to 10 fires Wednesday between 5:00 pm. and 9:30 pm.

Klaus said four fires were reported northwest of Hays, five were southeast of Hays and one fire was to the southwest of the city.

Klaus said the fires occurred on “grass, a wooded tree area and old grainary.”

These latest fires add to a string of fire incidents in Hays.

Just two days ago on Tuesday March 11th, 25 acres of grass burned north of Yocemento.   Last Friday, March 7th, rural fire crews responded to five separate fires outside of Hays.

Klaus said last week’s fires remain under investigation and “a natural cause” has not been determined for any of them.

“We are just lucky no one has been hurt responding to these fires or fighting them,” Klaus said, “and no homes have been lost.”

The Ellis County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the fires as well.   If anyone has any information, call 785-625-1040.