Hot and largely dry conditions for much of the last week have increased the fire danger areawide.
So far, there aren’t any county-specific burn bans and wind speeds haven’t been high enough to trigger red flag warnings and automatic burn bans for affected counties. However, Emporia Fire Battalion Chief Ryan Conley says we’re into the season where small sparks can cause big damage.
Conley encourages landowners to mow early in the day when it’s more humid and to bring a fire extinguisher with them just in case.
For homeowners, Conley suggests creating a “defensible perimeter.”
Cigarette disposal becomes vitally important when it’s this hot and dry, as does grill or firepit safety. Whenever putting out a planned fire, Conley says people should put “way more water on it than they think they need.”
