Crews battling fire west of Ashland
A wildfire that broke out in Clark County, Kansas around noon Monday is mostly under control.
Firefighters are putting out hot spots in the 2,000-acre area that burned, said Allison Kuhns, the county’s public information officer.
The March 5 fire started north of Highway 160, or about 5 miles west of Ashland. With winds out of the north, it quickly jumped the highway.
Kuhns said the fire is completely on the south side of Highway 160. The highway was closed briefly but has been reopened.
Several mutual aid agencies are on the scene, including from Meade and Comanche counties in Kansas, as well as Harper and Beaver counties in Oklahoma.
“We are getting some air support, as well, from Dodge City,” Kuhns said.
“Unlike last year’s fire, there were so many fires going on at the same time,” she said. “We have a lot of mutual aid agencies on scene and that is making a big difference.”
The fire didn’t affect any population centers. Ranches in the line of fire have been alerted and evacuated.
The fire broke out just one day before the anniversary of the Starbuck Fire, which burned more than 800,000 acres in Oklahoma and Kansas. Starbuck is Kansas’ largest wildfire, burning more than 500,000 acres. It’s also the largest U.S. wildfire on private land in the past 50 years.
According to the National Weather Service in Dodge City, Kansas, strong northwest winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 55 mph are expected through late afternoon. Highs are in the 50s to the lower 60s. Humidity is around 12 percent.
“With the wind where it is today, you hear the fire whistle go off and you think the worst,” Kuhns said.
The Kansas Division of Emergency Management issued a warning on its Facebook page telling residents fire conditions are catastrophic and not to do anything that may produce a spark or ember that could ignite a fire.
Because conditions mirror that of last year, volunteer fire departments have been preparing. The Jetmore Fire Department asked area farmers with tractors to hook them up and be ready.
Wind speeds are expected to diminish to 10 mph by Wednesday, according to the weather service.
Amy Bickel can be reached at 620-860-9433 or [email protected].
