Dry, windy conditions fuel wildfires across Kansas

Wildfires continue to burn across Kansas, driven by extremely dry conditions and a heavy fuel load of grass. The Kansas Adjutant General’s Department reported there were four uncontained fires burning and 12 active but controlled fires as of late March 15. For that day alone, the department tracked 45 fires that burned an estimated 13,000 acres.

Three Kansas Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the 1st Battalion, 108th Aviation Regiment deployed to assist with two active fires in Kiowa County. An additional five helicopters are on standby to assist with wildfire response where needed. 

Fire danger remains high today, with red flag and high wind warnings issued for much of western, central and southern Kansas.