HESSTON – Fire crews continue to battle fires in Harvey County this afternoon. Harvey County Communications received calls starting just before 1:30 p-m of numerous fires being reported by the Railroad tracks along Hesston Rd. north of Newton to the McPherson county line.

Mutual aid has been requested to fight the fires.

Some residences in the area had to be evacuated due to the location of the fires. These fires have threatened homes and other structures and officials say some outbuildings are engulfed in flames. No homes have been affected, but are still threatened.

Personnel from Hesston, Newton, Halstead, Burrton, Sedgwick, Walton, White Water, Harvey County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas Highway Patrol continue to battle these flames.

Hesston Road has been shut down to traffic in order to allow emergency vehicles access to the fires.

It is believed that the flames were most likely caused by hot brakes from a passing train on the tracks.