Lyon County had more controlled burns — and more out-of-control burns — in March and April this year than it did last year.
The Lyon County Emergency Communications Center reported almost 900 controlled burns from March 1 to April 30 — up almost 200 from the same time period in 2019. The number of out-of-control fires needing help from fire departments to put out went from 23 last year to 51 this year.
There is no report of the amount of acres burned, which was a major concern to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department of Agriculture — who asked Flint Hills landowners to cut back on acreage burned so hospitals wouldn’t be overloaded with allergy patients at the same time they were handling coronavirus patients. However, KDHE Air Monitoring and Planning Chief Doug Watson says things haven’t turned out as state officials feared.
There have been some air quality issues in Lincoln, Nebraska, due to smoke last month. KDHE is working with Nebraska officials to alert them when Flint Hills smoke may cause issues.
Watson also says the coronavirus probably won’t add any emphasis to current discussions about a possible second burning season in the fall as well as the traditional spring burns. KDHE will continue conversations with K-State Research and Extension on that topic.
The annual Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan burn restrictions ended Thursday.
