(Sedgwick County, Kan.) – A fire that broke out last night in tree trimmings and construction waste at Evergreen Recycle, 302 W. 53RD St. N. in Park City, is still smoldering but contained to an area approximately 100 feet by 100 feet. Crews from Sedgwick County Fire District 1 (SCFD1) and the Wichita Fire Department (WFD) worked together overnight to control the blaze, and rain also helped to keep the flames from spreading. Right now, about 20 SCFD1 firefighters are on the scene with Evergreen employees, using heavy equipment to pull the burn pile apart and extinguish it. This could take up to 24 hours, so SCFD1 crews will rotate out every 4-6 hours for the duration. With extreme heat expected today, the Salvation Army’s canteen truck is helping to keep our firefighters at the scene well-fed and hydrated.
The likely cause of the fire is lightning. A caller to 9-1-1 around 10:45 last night reported hearing a large clap of thunder and seeing lightning. A few minutes later, the caller spotted a fire burning on Evergreen Recycle property. SCFD1 is checking surveillance video in the area and running a lightning strike report to verify lightning as the cause of the fire.
SCFD1 reports that Evergreen Recycle has made significant progress in improving emergency access to its property, since a massive fire in June 2024 burned for several days and required aerial water drops to extinguish it. Currently, the piles of pallets, tree and construction waste at Evergreen Recycle are smaller and farther apart, making it harder for flames to spread and giving fire crews more room to maneuver their apparatus.
With increased fire danger later today, SCFD1 will continue to monitor weather conditions closely. Humidity is expected to drop, and winds will accelerate and shift overnight. Sedgwick County fire stations are fully staffed and getting weather updates regularly from Sedgwick County Emergency Management (SCEM).
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