Looking east toward the intersection of Belle Haven Drive and West 27th Terrace, firefighter work to extinguish a fire that was spreading through the storm sewers and a drainage culvert Dec. 16, 2010. Several youths were seen fleeing the area of the fire, shortly before the fire started.

A brush fire that started in the culvert along West 27th Street near Louisiana Street and spread under the street and through the storm sewers was quickly extinguished Thursday afternoon.

Multiple Lawrence Douglas County Fire and Medical units were called to the scene and to extinguish the fire.

Police had shut down the road while fire crews worked the scene, but it has since reopened. They requested a city sand and salt truck be dispatched to the area because the road had become slick with ice.

Witnesses reported seeing several high school-aged looking youths fleeing the area shortly before the fire started.

Battalion Chief Lyle Schwartz Thursday evening said the incident was still under investigation and that no additional information was available.