Gov. Laura Kelly issued a declaration of a State of Disaster Emergency for the weekend due to a high risk of wildland fires over the weekend. The primary threat will be on Sunday.
The declaration authorizes the use of state resources and personnel to assist with response and recovery operations in affected counties that meet certain criteria.
There is a threat for fires for the majority of the state with dry conditions with low relative humidity, gusty winds, and an abundance of dry grass and other flammable vegetation.
“As we have seen in past years, wildland fires can cause widespread destruction and present a very real threat to life and property,” Gov. Kelly said. “Outdoor burning of any kind is strongly discouraged, whether getting rid of unwanted brush or enjoying a backyard barbecue. It only takes a spark to start a fire that can quickly get out of control.”
Sedgwick County Fire District 1 issued a Burn Ban on Thursday, Oct. 20th ahead of the weekend’s dry condition, high temps, low humidity, and strong winds, especially for Sunday.
The Kansas Division of Emergency Management State Emergency Operations Center has been staffed through the weekend to monitor the situation and assist counties with requests for state assistance.
Kansas Forest Service will have aviation assets on standby along with ground resources.
