By ADAM STEWART

News editor

A huge response from area fire departments was needed to control a fire May 23 near Ramona.

Marion County Emergency Communications received a report of a fire about 1:45 p.m. at Larry Rudolph’s property near the intersection of 330th and Remington roads. Nobody was home when the fire started, Marion County Emergency Management Director Dan D’Albini said Friday.

The residential house was spared from the fire because a strong south wind was blowing the fire in the opposite direction, but an uninhabited house filled with antiques was destroyed in the fire, along with five outbuildings.

Ramona, Lost Springs, Lincolnville, Tampa, Marion, Durham, and Herington fire departments responded along with Marion County Emergency Medical Service out of Tampa, Marion County Emergency Management, and Marion County Sheriff’s Department.

Ramona Fire Chief Alan Bentz said the fire was difficult to put out because thick stands of trees got in the way. Firefighters got the fire blaze under control by 7 or 8 p.m. Ramona firefighters remained until about midnight Thursday putting out hot spots.

The Ramona department returned Thursday morning to finish putting out smoldering hot spots that couldn’t be seen during the night, Bentz said.

Two firefighters required medical attention. One had a tree limb fall on his back while in the wooded portion of the property and was transported to Herington Municipal Hospital. He was bruised but healthy, D’Albini said. Another firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation and was OK on Friday.

Bentz said there was no clear indication of the cause of the fire, and that the Kansas State Fire Marshal Office was investigating the fire.