There were several grass fires that developed during red flag warning periods this past weekend, but they weren’t widespread.
Record highs in the mid-90s and low humidity levels Saturday led to cooler but windier conditions Sunday, causing red flag warnings and automatic burn bans areawide for both weekend days.
Most of the KVOE listening area escaped any significant fire activity. Lyon County had a stubborn grass fire that developed near Roads 67 and X late Sunday morning along with three fires Saturday, two near Roads 130 and P and another near US Highway 56 and Road U.
Greenwood County, however, had a rough weekend with over 10 grass fires total — including at least three near 70th Street and Z Road due to repeated rekindles through the weekend after the initial fire Friday. A fire from that location joined with another developing near 75th and FF and a third originating near 100th and CC on Saturday. There is currently no word on the acreage burned. None of the grass fire reports in Lyon or Greenwood counties involve reports of structural damage or injuries.
Besides the fire danger, another concern this past weekend was air quality. AirNow, the federal air quality online tracking website, did not have any data specifically for Emporia this past weekend as it has in the past. Kansas Department of Health and Environment had an air quality advisory Friday and Saturday, while the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services issued a smoke advisory involving cities like Lincoln and Omaha for the weekend due to smoke from the Flint Hills.
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Monday’s fire danger is moderate to high, with highs in the mid-50s, wind gusts up to 20 mph and relative humidity levels around 30 percent. Low 90s and windy conditions return to the area Thursday.
KVOE and KVOE.com will have updates.
5:30 pm Sunday: Grass fire develops in southeast Lyon County; red flag warnings continue areawide
Two Lyon County fire departments responded to a grass fire that developed near Hartford on Sunday morning.
Fire crews from Hartford-Neosho Rapids and Olpe went to Roads 67 and X, about six miles southwest of Hartford, around 11:30 am, getting the fire under control shortly before 1 pm. A cause and acreage amount have not been announced.
Wind gusts were between 30-45 mph during the incident.
Meanwhile, Greenwood County firefighters handled a rekindle of a Saturday fire near 70th Street and Z Road as part of a small handful of emergency responses. A separate hay bale fire near 90th and N was also a rekindle.
Critical fire danger is ahead through the early-evening hours. Red flag warnings ae up areawide signaling automatic burn bans through 7 pm.
7:45 am Sunday: Greenwood County sees significant fire activity Saturday; red flag warnings continue areawide Sunday
Temperatures will be lower and relative humidity levels will be higher for Sunday versus Saturday, but wind speeds will also be higher — so the critical fire danger noted Saturday remains in place Sunday.
High temperatures climbed to 96 Saturday, smashing the prior record of 87 dating back to 2017, while relative humidity levels were between 10-14 percent for the afternoon hours. All area counties were in red flag warnings and resulting automatic burn bans for those conditions despite peak wind gusts of just over 20 mph.
Sunday’s high temperatures will be much more pleasant — only in the low- to mid-70s — but while humidity levels will be between 30-40 percent for the afternoon hours, winds shift to the north before noon and gust between 40-50 mph.
Red flag warnings remain in place areawide from 9 am to 7 pm. Area counties also have wind advisories until 4 pm.
Emporia Fire dealt with three relatively small fires Saturday. Most surrounding counties in the KVOE listening area avoided any significant fire activity. Greenwood County, though, had a stressful day with nearly 10 grass fires needing emergency responses — including a fire that started near 100th and CC Road, about 10 miles west of Cross Timbers State Park, and absorbed fires originating near 75th and FF and 70 and Z before finally getting extinguished. That fire rekindled from activity Friday, and at least one other fire from Saturday rekindled later in the day. No structures were reported as damaged and no injuries have been reported so far.
Sunday’s record high followed a record Saturday as temperatures climbed to 93, above the prior record of 90 set in 2017. Records are unlikely for the rest of the week, but aside from Monday’s high temperatures approaching 60 degrees, highs will be in the 70s and 80s through Thursday with sunshine — so the fire danger remains elevated until a chance of showers Thursday night.
Air quality remains a concern for people with allergies and other health concerns, although the Kansas Department of Health and Environment has not extended an air quality health advisory past its original expiration time Saturday afternoon.
KVOE and KVOE.com will have updates.
5 pm Saturday: Red Flag Warnings up through remainder of the weekend with extreme fire danger in place through Sunday
Red Flag Warnings will remain in place through the remainder of the weekend.
On top of the warning affecting the entire KVOE listening area Saturday, Lyon and all surrounding counties until 10 pm – Red Flag Warnings have also been issued from 9 am to 8 pm, again for the entire listening area Sunday. Seperately, a wind advisory has been issued for Lyon, Morris and Wabaunsee counties from 7 am to 4 pm and Chase and Greenwood counties from 9 am to 8 pm Sunday.
The Red Flag Warnings mean automatic burn bans for all affected counties reflecting extreme fire danger through the weekend due to a combination of low humidity levels, dry fuels, and heavy winds. North winds are expected to be steady between 20 and 30 mph on Sunday, with some gusts as high as 45 mph, meaning any fires that develop will have the ability to spread rapidly.
Emporia Fire has already responded to a trio of fire calls around Emporia as of Saturday afternoon; however, none of the reported fires were out of control. According to EFD, crews were called to 1270 Road P at 11:05 am for a grass fire, and a little over an hour later, would respond to a separate fire just a half mile to the west.
Both of these incidents were controlled burns that had begun before Saturday’s Red Flag Warnings had gone into effect and firefighters simply extinguished them before clearing the scene. A third fire was then called in just after 2:30 pm at the intersection of Road U and US Highway 56.
EFD says this was a rekindle of a controlled burn from the night before. None of the fires caused damage to any property and no injuries were reported.
After record high temperatures both Friday and Saturday in the mid to upper 90s, the area is anticipating a bit of a cool down Sunday with
