WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – Thursday evening overview: The scene near 29th Street North and Greenwich is very different from hours earlier, when smoke and flames filled the air. Concerns grew among those who live and work in the area.

The rapidly spreading Grass Fire, fueled by record high temperatures, strong winds and dry soil, was estimated to have covered about 300 acres in northeast Wichita and part of Sedgwick County north of the city.

From Thursday evening through Friday morning, crews will be checking for hotspots to ensure no flare-ups occur. The much-needed rain also aided efforts to control the fire.

A Sedgwick County Fire Department battalion chief said the fire destroyed an abandoned building, but the quick work of first responders, including a mutual aid response, helped protect neighborhoods and businesses in the area outside the Stryker Sports Complex and Jabara Airport between Webb and Greenwich Road.

About 60 firefighters from various agencies responded to slow the blaze. Mutual aid came from the ground and air as a Kansas Forest Service air tanker dropped water on the flames from above. Fire officials say the request for aerial assistance in a fire is a rare call they have to make, especially in Sedgwick County. It was necessary on Thursday.

As the fire continued, a number of companies decided to evacuate. Sydney’s Pet Resort and Spa was among them, warning pet owners about 4pm on Thursday to collect their pets. 12 News spoke with a pet owner about the fire being so close to his dog.

“I was surprised at how big it was,” the pet owner said. “I saw emergency vehicles passing by, probably not that good. I was surprised and watched the news to see what was going on. So yeah, I’m happy that things seem to be going this way and that people are staying here. I’m glad they notified us and that I was able to pick up my dog.”

It took about an hour for the fire to stop spreading north. An important reason for this was that the strong wind blew the flames further.

“All fields are fully cured, meaning they will ignite regularly. When you have fuels that can ignite on a regular basis combined with above normal temperatures, high winds and low humidity, it all adds up to a pretty volatile situation when it comes to wildfires,” said Sedgwick County Battalion Chief Lane Pearman.

While the official cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed, officials believe they know where the fire started: in a pile of mulch mixed with dry grass and trash outside the Stryker Sports Complex parking lot. This became a hotspot that kept flaring up.

The fire brigade hosed down the area around 5:30 p.m. but before that, the wind continued to carry the fire further north, into a field where crews will remain all night.

Update 7 p.m.: A favorable change in weather and mutual aid, including an airstrike, made a difference in the battle to contain a large grass fire spreading from an area near 29th Street North and Greenwich.

After the sun sets Thursday, crews will continue the fight into the night to keep the fire from spreading beyond their control and to prevent hot spots from flaring up. This effort will likely last from Thursday evening through Friday morning.

Sedgwick County Battalion Chief Lane Pearman said the fire spread to an abandoned building. There were no reports of serious damage or destruction to homes or businesses Thursday evening. There were also no reports of injuries.

The cause of the fire is under investigation as efforts to extinguish the fire continue.

Update, 5:45 p.m.: An air raid courtesy of Tanker 95 with the Kansas Forest Service is helping crews on the ground battle a large grass fire that started Thursday afternoon near 29th Street North and Greenwich in northeast Wichita. Strong southerly winds pushed the fire north into Sedgwick County.

Several departments joined the fight Thursday evening, providing assistance to crews from the Wichita and Sedgwick County fire departments. With the help of the tanker above, mutual aid on the ground included the Andover Fire Department, a Butler County Fire Department crew from Benton, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and Sedgwick County EMS.

There were no reports of injuries, but calls for homes and businesses included at least one evacuation, Sydney’s Pet Resort near 29th and Greenwich.

Wichita firefighters are on the scene of a large grass fire in the area of ​​K-96 and North Greenwich Road. The fire prompted the closure of Greenwich on 29th Street.

The wind is pushing the fire north into the province. Looking at the affected area, there is a dark wall of smoke and dust in the air.

As of 5 p.m., Sedgwick County Emergency Services said there were no reports of injuries. It is unknown how many homes and businesses could be affected and to what extent. At least one business, Sydney’s Pet Resort, was evacuated and urged pet owners to pick up their dogs. In a Facebook post just after 4 p.m., the company said it could not answer phone calls.

Meanwhile, the Stryker Sports Complex, near where the fire is believed to have started, remained open Thursday evening. The effort to contain the fire moving north into Sedgwick County included airstrike assistance from Tanker 95 with the Kansas Forest Service.

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