Updated: Wednesday, 2:16 p.m.
Approximately 10-15 acres burned early Tuesday evening south of Winfield on the east side of U.S. 77.
Winfield Fire Marshal Chad Mayberry told KSOK Wednesday afternoon the blaze likely sparked from the side of the highway via catalytic converter failure.
“It’s our best guess,” Mayberry said.
Mayberry said that when a vehicle’s catalytic converter begins to fail, contents of the converter break apart, become super heated and small, BB-sized pieces blow out the muffler from the exhaust.
Mayberry said especially dry conditions up the odds a piece of debris from a failing converter will spark a grass fire from the side of the roadway.
From Tuesday night:
Firefighters fought back a grass fire just south of Winfield on U.S. 77 late Tuesday afternoon.
Crews responded just north of Country Club Road on the east side of U.S. 77. The blaze stretched from the railroad tracks further east to the should of the highway. Flames continued to railroad overpass further north.
