Triplett v. Western Public Service Co.

This is a negligence action, brought by a Thomas county ranchman for damages caused by a prairie fire alleged to have been started from matches or cigarettes used by defendant’s employees.

Earl F. Triplett brought an action against the Western Public Service Company and the Henningson Engineering Company for damages caused by a prairie fire, which started about noon March 9, 1930, and burned over 500 acres of plaintiff’s valuable hay land. Plaintiff alleged that such fire greatly reduced the fertility of the land, so that it produced no hay during the years 1930 or 1931, as the roots of the…