Despite Governor Laura Kelly issuing a verbal state of disaster emergency Thursday in response to impending weather conditions through next week, the Emporia Fire Department is not overly concerned about widespread fire danger locally.
Battalion Chief Eron Steinlage says he is confident there will not be a significant need for fire response in the coming days thanks to recent rainfall within the listening area.
That being said, Steinlage tells KVOE News residents still need to take regular precautions if they are planning a controlled burn as wind gusts could shift and cause those burns to become out of control. If you are planning a controlled burn, be sure to have water on hand, extinguish all remnants of a fire once the burn has concluded, and call the burn in both before and after it is done.
Steinlage’s comments follow Governor Kelly’s issuance of a state disaster emergency Thursday due to hot, dry and windy conditions that are expected possibly into the middle of next week. That announcement starts the process so state resources can be “prepositioned” for use if needed.
The Kansas Division of Emergency Management is also at an “enhanced steady state” to help counties and local first responders.
