Outdoor burning is a no-go across the KVOE listening area Sunday.
All area counties are in a red flag warning for a combination of critical fire weather factors: temperatures approaching 70 degrees, dry vegetation, humidity levels below 25 percent and southwest winds as high as 35 mph. The Weather Service says any fires that develop will spread rapidly and will be difficult to control if they start.
Lyon County and several neighboring counties automatically announce burn bans whenever red flag warnings are in effect. No trash burns or property burns of any sort will be allowed in the Emporia city limits during the red flag warning. Wabaunsee County is in a separate burn ban through 7 pm Monday. Chase County was in a ban for Sunday and that may be extended through Monday, depending on later forecasts. Osage County has announced a burn ban beginning Sunday and continuing until further notice, while Morris County has advised its residents burning may well be disallowed until Wednesday.
Residents who have conducted controlled burns recently are asked to do what they can to prevent them from rekindling. Residents also need to be careful with smoking materials and smoking appliances like grills and smokers. In addition, residents conducting burns need to have water on hand. Emporia Fire went to three grass fires Saturday — Road 140 and M, 2200 block of Kansas Highway 99 and 900 block of Road 130 — and those sites had inadequate water to keep fires under control.
The fire danger gradually eases by Tuesday with higher humidity levels expected. Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates.
