Stolen car believed to have sparked massive brush fire in rural JoCo

RURAL JOHNSON COUNTY, Kan. - A stolen car may have sparked the flames of a massive brush fire that burned over 100 acres in rural Johnson County.

The fire broke out between Mission Road and State Line, which was spotted by firefighters around 6:40 p.m. Wednesday. According to Overland Park Fire and Police Department investigators, the flames spread after a stolen vehicle was abandoned and set on fire.

A trailer and four-wheeler were also found burned on the scene.

According to Fire Chief Jim Francis, with the Johnson County Fire District No. 2, it took about an hour to get under control.

Eleven brush trucks, five fire tucks and four water tanker trucks were used to combat the flames. Over 100 acres of bean fields, 10 to 20 acres of trees and dozens of hay bales burned.

Francis said the area, which is used as a day camp for outdoor education, is very remote, which is why no one spotted the fire before it grew so large.

Firefighters were able to get the flames under control around 7:35 p.m.