Smoke from a grass fire near Dorrence in Russell County forced the closure of a portion of Highway 40.

At 4:09 this afternoon the Kansas Highway Patrol reported that Old Highway 40 between 201st and 202nd roads in Russell County were closed due to the smoke from a grass fire burning in the area.

Eyewitnesses also report there were several Highway Patrol Troopers monitoring the area along I-70 as smoke was also drifting over a portion of the interstate near Dorrence.  The fire itself appeared to be just on the West side of the city of  Dorrance.