By L. KELLY and TIM POTTER
The Wichita Eagle (Kansas)
After two small tornadoes touched down briefly in Hutchinson early Thursday afternoon, Peggy Moffett thought the worst had passed her by.
Then she smelled the smoke.
“I looked out, and there was flames everywhere.”
She called 911 to report her house was surrounded by fire.
“I finally just decided: ‘Lord, you got to help me get out.’ ”
The smoke was so thick it was hard for her to see, but Moffett managed to get to her car and back out the gravel driveway onto 17th Street near Obee Road.
Hutchinson Fire Chief Kim Forbes told The Eagle that between 3 and 10 p.m. 300 to 400 people had been evacuated from a 21-square-mile area — some from their burning homes and yards. Thousands of others live in the affected area. No injuries were reported.
Forbes said he expects state and federal officials to declare it a disaster area.
About 6 p.m., Reno County Sheriff Randy Henderson had announced the evacuation of the area bounded by Fourth Street, Apple Lane, 30th Street and Haven-Buhler Road. Propane tanks and strong winds had made the situation very dangerous.
“If you can see the fire, you need to get out,” he said.
Henderson said around 8 p.m. that between 4,800 to 5,400 acres east of Hutchinson had burned, and the fire was “well-contained but not under control.”
Firefighters trying to keep the grass fire from jumping over Haven-Buhler Road put down flame-retardant foam, Forbes said.
Forbes said some firefighters would work through the night. By late evening, the winds had died down and the fire’s pace slowed. By 11 p.m., winds were down to 6 mph and are expected to be light today.
The burned area includes grassland that is dotted with thickets, houses, barns and other buildings.
At least five large structures, including houses, were burned, Forbes said. That number did not include campers, cars and farm implements that were destroyed, or buildings that were less seriously damaged. Most of the damaged large structures were along 17th Street. A more complete loss assessment will be made today.
Emergency dispatchers said that between 14 and 30 fires were reported in Reno County. The two largest, Forbes said, were at 17th Street and Obee, and northeast of there near Haven-Buhler Road.
Forbes estimated that 140 firefighters — some from as far away as Wichita and Salina — battled the blazes.
As the fire near 17th and Obee — and news of it — spread, vehicles began streaming in and out of Moffett’s neighborhood: Some residents were leaving but others were trying to get in to rescue dogs and horses, collect belongings or help fight the flames.
Gregg Schmidt went home for his puppy, Sheeba. The fire got within about 10 feet of his house before he was able to extinguish it with a garden hose.
“She was behind my house in a kennel,” Schmidt said of the dog he’s owned for only three weeks. “She went ballistic when she saw me.”
He walked out with Sheeba cradled in his arms.
“I’m real lucky.”
Law enforcement officers went door to door, helping people — including some who were disabled, Henderson said — get to safety. Some were reluctant to leave.
An evacuation shelter was set up at the Eaton Activity Center, 3100 E. Fourth St., with assistance from the American Red Cross.
Moffett’s brother, Doug Teter, used a garden hose to put out the fire that was taking bites out of her roof. Siding on the garage was melted.
“It’s my brother who saved the house,” Moffett said, hugging him with tears in her eyes.
Laura and Brent Engelland, who live with their three small children about a quarter-mile from the Prairie Dunes golf course, turned their lawn sprinklers on and used a hose to put water on the roof of their home.
The Engellands could see the fire, but because they were on the northern border of the evacuated area and the 40- to 50-mph winds were pushing the fire away from them, they stayed home.
They did, however, gather a change of clothes, some photos and other mementos — just in case.
“We have friends who have evacuated,” Brent said. “It’s kind of a little surreal.”
Residents who have evacuated can call (620) 960 2821 to see if it is safe to return home.