Nikole Babb, nbabb@cherryroad.com
6:24pm UPDATE: The highway is back open and power has been restored to the 170 customers who were affected.
4:34pm UPDATE: The fire has been extinguished but the roads are still closed due to powerline down. Evergy is on scene and working to turn off the grid area so they can clear the highway.
Several powerlines and a pasture fire have caused two intersections on HWY 77 to be closed until further notice.
With the severe wind gusts cutting through Butler County today, several powerlines have been reported to have fallen down along HWY 77 between Douglass and Augusta. Those live powerlines being down have caused unsafe conditions for drivers and caused a fire to be set off in a pasture to the east of the roadway.
Thanks to all fire departments who worked to extinguish the fire, Augusta Department Of Public Safety, Butler County Fire District #8, Butler County Fire Dist. 9 Leon Fire, Butler County Fire District #3 and Andover Fire-Rescue.
The Butler County Sheriff’s Office said the intersections of SW 130th/HWY77 and SW 150th/HWY 77 are closed until the area can be secured. Officers from the Kansas Highway Patrol and Sheriff’s Office are working to close and reroute drivers for the time being until the energy provider can determine the cause and secure the area.
Local fire departments are working to eliminate the fire as fast as possible.
