(Update) – Tuesday was a busy night for firefighters in the northeast part of Doniphan County as a large grass fire spread across dozens of acres.

Wathena Fire Chief Tony Libel said all fire crews were out at another fire on Randolph road around 8 p.m. when the call came in of a large grass fire near the Peter’s Creek Wildlife area on Monument Rd.  He said assistance was called in from fire crews in Elwood and Rosecrans and Wathena crews responded after taking care of the other fire.

Libel said the fire burned more than 50 acres of grass along the river with flames shooting 6 feet into the air.  He said the concern was keeping the fire away from the bluffs where there are several homes and away from town.  Crews were able to get the fire under control by around 10:30 p.m. around the same time a storm started to down pour.  No injuries and no loss of property was reported.

Libel said the official cause of the fire is unknown but there was a fire burning across the river on the Missouri side and it’s possible an ember could have jumped the river.