Wildfires rolled through Reno and Harvey Counties Saturday afternoon, forcing evacuations and causing injuries.
The Hutchinson Fire Department was dispatched just after 12:30 p.m. to a brush fire east of Hutchinson, a mile west of Buhler Road.
Winds gusted to 45 mph at times, causing the fire to rapidly spread. Firefighters helped protect structures and evacuated residents.
The fire damaged approximately 12 square miles. Fire officials do not have a count of how many homes were damaged in the blaze.
One couple east of Hutchinson lost their home, along with 3 cats and 3 dogs. They escaped the fire by jumping into a pond. The couple was transported to a hospital and treated for first-degree burns and smoke inhalation.
A portion of the transmitter building for KWCH-TV caught on fire but the structure remains intact. Station officials say the transmitter itself was not damaged but the station will remain off the air until later today.
