By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

Ellis County Rural Fire crews were called to three separate wheat field fires Wednesday.

Crews were called to the first fire at 11:40 a.m. Wednesday in the area of 2300 Buckeye Road. When crews arrived on scene, the fire line was almost a quarter-mile wide, according to firefighters on scene.

Ellis County Public Works used a motor grader in the area to help put on the fire. Rural Fire Director Darin Myers said about 20 to 25 acres of the field were burned in the fire.

Crews were able to get farm equipment out of the field in time, according to Myers.

Two other fires were reported within a mile of each other, just after 5 p.m. — south of Hays at 270th and Munjor Road and 270th and Mount Pleasant Road.

Myers said all three fires were caused by equipment failure on combines. None of the combines sustained serious damage, he said.

Approximately 8 acres were destroyed by the fire at 270th and Munjor Road. About 4 acres were burned at 270th and Mount Pleasant Road.