Wildfires are currently causing widespread evacuations in Riley and Pottawatomie counties. These devastating fires have already engulfed thousands of acres of land and have tragically destroyed at least one home, according to the Kansas Forest Service.
Two wildfires in the area north of Manhattan have been brought under control after scorching through thousands of acres, resulting in road closures and mandatory evacuations.
One home has been destroyed by the fires, but thankfully there have been no reported fatalities, according to the Kansas Forest Service. In response to the escalating fires, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly took swift action by issuing a disaster emergency declaration on Friday. This proactive measure was prompted by the anticipation of dry and windy conditions that added fuel to the already dangerous situation.
According to Shawna Hartman, the public information officer for the Kansas Forest Service, firefighters were actively working on containing the fire on Friday. However, the fire was exacerbated by the strong winds and dry air conditions.
In an interview, Hartman stated that the intensity of the fire behavior increased on Saturday when the dry air encountered the ongoing fire.
Crews swiftly tackled two notable fires. One of them has been referred to by various names, such as the Burklund-Axelton Fire, Axelton Hill Road Fire, and Jenkins Fire. The other fire is commonly known as the Big Blue 2 Fire or Blue River Fire.
Crews from other parts of the state will be released from the Burklund-Axelton fire on Monday evening, according to Hartman. The fire is currently 80% contained.
The Blue River Fire is currently at an estimated containment level of 60%.
According to Hartman, the authorities have announced their plans to resume patrolling tomorrow and will release resources by midday if there is no further expansion of the situation.
According to Hartman, the Kansas Forest Service, as of Monday afternoon, has not determined the total number of acres that have been burned. Incident commanders conducted an aerial assessment of the fires on Monday and discovered that the blaze was not burning in the expected location.
Sunday morning brought news of a devastating fire, as Riley County Fire District No. 1 took to Facebook to report that over 3,000 acres had already been consumed by the flames within their county.
The Axelton Hill Road Fire, which started on Friday near Tuttle Creek Lake Reservoir in Pottawatomie County and then spread to Riley County, burned vigorously in the lake and river bottoms, according to Hartman.
According to Becky Ryan, the public information officer for Pottawatomie County, the fire initially started as a prescribed burn, which is a common practice in Kansas to manage invasive plants, promote the growth of new prairie vegetation, and minimize the risk of wildfires. However, this particular burn ended up getting out of control, as stated by Ryan.
The Big Blue 2 Fire is currently ablaze in the vicinity of Blue Rapids, situated in Marshall County, as confirmed by Hartman.
According to a Facebook post on Sunday by State Fire Marshal Mark Engholm, the wildfires are proving to be extremely challenging to control due to factors such as high winds, wind shifts, rough terrain, and an abundance of fuels.
Evacuation notices have been issued on Sunday for certain areas in Riley and Pottawatomie counties. According to a social media post by the Riley County police, the fire is rapidly approaching and remains uncontained.
The order in Pottawatomie County has been lifted.
The Kansas Forest Service was anticipated to gather more information regarding the magnitude of the fire on Tuesday.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor map, the counties affected by the fires are currently facing abnormally dry conditions or moderate drought.