Kansas Forest Service on high alert as fire season reaches Sunflower State

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – With increased fire danger throughout Kansas, fire departments across the state are preparing their teams to be on top of their game when it comes to life-and-property-saving efforts. As February rolls into March, the Kansas Forest Service expects a high probability of grass fires.

For local fire departments, the preparation includes ensuring that they have enough manpower to combat the flames.

“We have the potential to add extra staffing on specialized vehicles so that we have enough crews out there to respond to those emergencies,” Kansas Wildland Coordinator Brian Finan explained.

Dry grassland and wind are a couple of key contributors to the to threat prompting fire departments to prepare for the days ahead. Also critically important are mitigation efforts from homeowners in their communities.

“Just be incredibly proactive and educate yourself in your community. Clear your yard debris,” said Saline County Emergency Management Deputy Director Alyssa Sanchez.

Other tips for property owners include reporting any indication of fire or smoke, cleaning gutters and clearing debris around structures.

For firefighters throughout Kansas, it’s essentially a waiting game in which they’re on standby until they’re called to fight windswept flames.

“We kind of forecast these things coming. Do we know the actual event is going to happen? No. There are still incidents that are going to rise up and we just deal with them as they present themselves,” said Kansas Forest Service Assistant Fire Management Officer Dennis Carlson.

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