Firefighters in Kansas are on high alert

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – Strong winds and dry conditions are the perfect recipe for fire danger and for the second straight day on Tuesday, crews in Kansas rushed to stay ahead of wildfires and prevent worst-case scenarios.

“We are currently in extremely high conditions and on top of that: lack of moisture, dry conditions and tall grass as we end the tall grass season. and then we got high winds today,” Butler County Fire Chief Judd Gifford said Tuesday.

Due to the windy conditions, a red flag warning is in effect for several parts of Kansas. Fire officials at the local and state levels recommend measures to stay safe on high fire danger days.

“First make sure everything is in order at your home. That is always a good thing to prevent grass fires from entering your home,” Gifford said. “Then if you do outdoor activities (or when) you have to do some kind of burning, try to limit it to something that is necessary.”

The Butler County Fire Marshal has issued a reminder to take proper precautions.

“Just be safe,” Gifford said. “That’s the most important thing: you take good care of what you do when it comes to fire. I’m not saying don’t have fire pits or anything like that, but use them properly.”

The Kansas Adjutant General’s Office also issued an emergency notice about the high fire danger.

“The Kansas Division of Emergency Management, Kansas Fire Marshal and Kansas Forest Service urge Kansans to exercise caution this week due to the risk of wildfires,” the Adjutant General’s office said. “Unseasonably warm temperatures, very dry southerly winds, low relative humidity and extremely dry vegetation mean fire danger in the state is very high today and will be elevated for the rest of the week.”

A press release from the Kansas Adjutant General’s Office includes a message from Governor Laura Kelly.

“The warmer weather, lack of rain and high winds put us at risk of wildfires breaking out across the state,” Governor Kelly said. “I urge Kansans to avoid any outdoor activity that could spark a wildfire.”