Welda house fire

On Thursday, February 8, at approximately 14:48 hours, 911 received a report of a residential structure fire at 23579 SW 1100 road, Welda. Upon arrival units found a one-story home fully involved with fire. At the time of the fire the area was receiving close to 40 mph winds that were fanning the fire. Additional units were requested. In total units from Welda, Garnett, Harris, Colony and Greeley stations responded. At approximately 2100 hours the fire was declared extinguished. The home belonged to Tim and Patty Benton and was a total loss. There were no injuries reported. Tim is a retired member of the Anderson County Rural Fire Welda Station, having served his neighbors from 1993 to 2023. At approximately 0648 hours on Friday, February 9, the fire was reported to have rekindled. Fire units from Welda, Garnett, Harris and Westphalia responded. At approximately 1000 hours the fire was again declared extinguished. In addition to the fire units, personnel from the Anderson County EMS, Sheriff and Office of Emergency Management responded to both fires. The cause of the fire in under investigation by the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office. Submitted by Mark Lock, Director, Anderson County Emergency Management and Fire.