CHASE, Kan.  -  Crews worked to extinguish a large house fire in Rice County Wednesday night.  The house was a total loss, but the family escaped unharmed.
     Large flames covered the entire house off of Highway 56 in Chase.  Smoke from this fire could be seen as far east as Little River.  One friend found the family outside the home as they watched it burn to the ground.
    The house was the third call that Rice County Firefighters responded to in a day.  Two grass fires were reported in the county, one that caused at least one other structure to burn down near Little River.
     Responders from several counties came to the aid of residents in Rice County. Fortunately, there are no reports of injuries.  Rice County Deputy Sheriff Chad Murphy says, “We're very fortunate that our communities come together at one time to help out, and we have a mutual aid agreement to where we can come in and assist each other.”