Growing concerns for wildfires across Kansas while in winter months

Adam Orduna
·2 min read

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Wildfire danger is a serious concern in parts of Kansas, and crews are getting ready for what could be a busy wildfire season.

The Kansas Forest Service has said that the latest wet winter has promoted new growth of shrubs and grass. A big problem for the western part of the state is that when the temperature rises and the wind blows, vegetation dries out quickly, creating the potential for catastrophic fires.

Strong winds and dry conditions have fire crews in southwest Kansas on alert.

“We just got to be cautious and keep an eye on the weather,” Seward County Fire Chief Andrew Barkley said.

Chief Barkley says they’re geared up for the season, making sure equipment is ready.

“The smallest wind and the driest conditions can really take off on us, so, you know, our goal as the fire department is, we try to get on that fast and get on it quickly,” he said.

Storm Track 3 Forecast: Temperatures to soar into the coming weekend

The Kansas Forest Service says 95% of the wildfires in Kansas are started by humans. Some of the leading causes of wildfires are sparks by machinery or vehicles and controlled burns that get out of control.

“Those of us who work outdoors have to be very cognizant of anything that we’re doing that creates an open flame or a spark, whether that’s welding on a fence or burning trash or even a prescribed fire,” Kansas Forest Service Supervisor Aaron Williams said.

Across the state, many communities rely on volunteer firefighters and their neighbors to fight big fires. Fire crews in Seward County say that limited resources and staffing make fighting the wildfires much more of a challenge.

“There’s not a lot of resources out there when – if you compare Kansas to Colorado, or Oregon, or California, where what the state does for the Wildland Association – Kansas has been mostly reliant on their volunteer firefighters,” said Barkley

Fire mitigation efforts are going on across Kansas. Crews are doing prescribed burning for the next couple of months. Prescribed burning plays a critical role in maintaining grassland health and reducing wildfire risks. According to state officials, Kansas has around 5,000 reported wildfires a year.

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