TOPEKA — Changes are needed in how the state approaches wildfires.
That’s the upshot of a legislative audit released Wednesday. The report says state leadership is fragmented and not enough financial resources are available to coordinate an effective response.
The report says Kansas allocates $4.50 per square mile for wildfire suppression, but other states across the Plains set aside a lot more. South Dakota’s rate is over $19. North Dakota’s rate is nearly $31 a square mile. And Oklahoma’s rate is over $87 a square mile.
Other problems, according to the report:
*The Kansas system doesn’t mesh with those of other Central Plains states.
*The State Fire Marshal’s Office owns no suppression equipment and doesn’t have the expertise needed for fighting non-structure fires
*Firefighters aren’t thoroughly trained
*Mistrust between local and state fire agencies
The report asks lawmakers pick a single agency to lead wildfire efforts and to handle the financial side of things. It also suggested the Fire Marshal’s Office should have local fire districts use a centralized computer system for reporting wildfires.
The Topeka Capital-Journal says wildfire suppression starts with local government. If there are issues, local officials can then ask for help from regional peers and, if necessary, the Kansas Division of Emergency Management, Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Kansas Forest Service.
Lawmakers ordered the report after wildfires in 2016 and 2017 that burned around 800,000 total acres, killed one person and around 5,000 head of cattle, destroyed 6,000 miles of fencing and caused roughly $80 million in total damage.