Outdoor burning will not be allowed across Lyon County, including the city of Emporia, on Monday. They won’t be allowed areawide, either.
The National Weather Service has upgraded Monday’s fire weather watch to a red flag warning, signaling critical to extreme fire danger between 12-9 pm.
Coffey, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee counties are in the same warning until 9 pm, while Chase and Greenwood counties are in a separate warning until 10 pm. High temperatures will be in the 70s with humidity levels under 25 percent. In addition, Lyon and most area counties are in a wind advisory from noon to 1 am Tuesday. The exceptions, Chase and Greenwood counties, are in a high wind warning from noon to 10 pm Monday.
At least six Lyon County grass fires went out of control Sunday afternoon, but none led to structure damage or injuries. All area counties had multiple out-of-control grass fires to extinguish Sunday. Again, there was no structural damage or injuries reported.
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1 pm Sunday: Red flag warnings issued for Chase, Greenwood counties; two Lyon County burns go out of control
The prospect for dangerous fire conditions Monday has triggered red flag warnings for two of Lyon County’s neighboring counties.
Chase and Greenwood counties started Sunday in a fire weather watch for Monday afternoon and evening. Both have been upgraded to a red flag warning from 12-9 pm Monday. High temperatures will be in the 70s with humidity levels under 25 percent and wind gusts over 50 mph, setting the stage for “extreme fire behavior.”
Lyon County and all other surrounding counties remain in a fire weather watch from 12-9 pm Monday and may be upgraded before the watch officially begins due to similar weather conditions.
Numerous controlled burns were set off in Lyon County and neighboring counties Sunday. At least two went out of control Sunday afternoon. Firefighters from Lyon County Fire District 4, Emporia’s rural unit, joined Allen-Admire, Miller and Reading fire units for a fire in the 2200 block of Burlingame Road, while fire crews from District 4 and Americus went to a second fire in the 600 block of Road 180. Both fires were reported as out of control shortly before 1 pm.
With the expected weather conditions Monday, landowners setting controlled burns this weekend will need to take extra steps to make sure the burns do not rekindle. Trash and brush burning will not be allowed in the Emporia city limits Monday.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates.
