Kansas governor issues disaster declaration due to weekend wildfire threat

TOPEKA, Kan. (KWCH) - Gov. Laura Kelly issued a declaration of disaster emergency Thursday morning due to the potential for wildfires in the state on Friday and Saturday. The declaration allows for a quicker response from the state’s aerial firefighting assets from the Kansas Forest Service should fires begin.

🔥Fire Weather Update for March, 3 2022 with Meteorologist Chip Redmond. Critical to Extreme Fire Weather expected...
Posted by Kansas Forest Service on Thursday, March 3, 2022

The Kansas Division of Emergency Management will activate the State Emergency Operations Center in Topeka to a partial level Friday morning to keep in contact with county emergency offices and monitor weather conditions.

Storm Team 12 has said that Friday will be warm, but windier and that will elevate the risk of wildfires, especially across central Kansas where red flag warnings are expected.

“Conditions for significant wildfires are at an historic high across Kansas,” said Mark Neely, Fire Management Officer for Kansas Forest Service. “Any ignition source could cause a wildfire that will grow rapidly and burn aggressively. Help your local firefighters by checking and rechecking previously completed brush piles to make sure they are completely extinguished.”