Dry grass, high winds and a spark—all the ingredients necessary for a rampant range fire. As the old Kanwaka store burned down, fields downwind kept a small overworked rural fire department busy, as they fought fire and smoke.
When they saw the wall of the old store start to smolder, Sheriff's officers and neighbors tried to put it out with the equipment at hand (above), but their efforts were to no avail as less than 30 minutes later, the store was lost (right). It was a great show, and attracted a small group of KU students who gave the final flame a standing ovation.
The fire started when a spark from burning trash ignited rain-starved grass. An old barn nearby went up like a torch, and the fire was in full swing. The fire was about 5 miles west of Lawrence at "Kanwaka Corner."
Photos by Rick Pendergrass