Sedgwick County Commission receives update on recycle center fire

Despite the intense heat, Sedgwick County fire crews, with help from the Army National Guard, have made significant progress on a fire that broke out Sunday evening in Park City.

Doug Williams, Fire Chief for Sedgwick County Fire District 1, spoke to county commissioners Wednesday morning. He says fire fighters have worked in 4-hour rotations to tackle the Evergreen Recycle fire, at 302 West 53rd Street North.

Williams said they expect to wrap up operations either Wednesday or early Thursday at the site. He said that water drops from the Guard helped the county get water to areas that they couldn't reach. Williams added that this time around, the piles of pallets aren't as large and are spaced out.

The 2022 fire, blamed on spontaneous combustion, burned for just over a week.

The county’s disaster declaration will not need to be extended.

In other county news, commissioners approved a $50,000 funding request from the Greater Wichita Partnership for an update to the Project Downtown Wichita Master plan.

The partnership has secured $300,000 in private funding and are hopeful to receive $50,000 from the City of Wichita as well to reach its goal of $400,000.

The original 2010 master plan is responsible for nearly $1.7 billion in public and private sector investment in the downtown area.

Finally, the county has approved renaming the pavilion at Lake Afton Park after former Park Superintendent Mark Sroufe, who passed away suddenly in January 2023. Mr. Sroufe worked for the county for 38 years.