RENO COUNTY-(AP) — The Latest on wildfires burning across the country’s midsection (all times local):
Gov. Sam Brownback says Kansas has asked Wyoming and South Dakota for equipment to help fight wildfires that have burned hundreds of square miles of land in Kansas.
Brownback told reporters Tuesday that 10 communities in the state saw residents evacuated at least temporarily Monday and Tuesday as fires burned about 625 square miles.
Most the area burned was in Clark County, in southern Kansas. But between 10,000 and 12,000 people left their homes in Reno County because of a fire north of Hutchinson, which is about 40 miles northwest of Wichita.
Brownback says Kansas is asking Wyoming to send helicopters for dropping water and South Dakota to send communications equipment.
He’s says he’s concerned that the dry, windy conditions will continue for another day or two and could return later in the spring.
3 p.m.
— The Kansas Livestock Association is launching a relief effort for ranchers affected by wildfires that have scorched hundreds of square miles of land in the state.
The group said Tuesday it is accepting donations of feed, fencing supplies and cash for the ranchers who’ve lost fencing, forage resources, harvested feed and an undetermined number of cattle in the blazes.
The association says ranch homes and outbuildings also were among the losses.
Donations may be made by contacting the association, with cash contributions payout through the Kansas Livestock Foundation, the association’s charitable arm.
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8:35 a.m.
Authorities say wildfires have burned about 625 square miles in Kansas, damaging dozens of structures and forcing thousands to evacuate.
Kansas Department of Emergency Management Katie Horner says 10,000 to 12,000 people voluntarily evacuated their homes Monday night in Reno County. She says 66 people were in shelters Tuesday in Hutchinson as crews continued fighting fires that started over the weekend.
The largest of the blazes was burning in rural southwest Kansas’ Clark County, where about 545 square miles has burned. Horner says 30 structures have been damaged, and bridges have been compromised. That fire is now 61 percent contained.
Evacuations also have been ordered in Russell, and Comanche counties.
Horner says all but four of the state’s 105 counties are under red-flag warnings of critical wildfire conditions.
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As wildfires burn in multiple counties across the state, the State Emergency Operations Center continues to monitor and coordinate assistance for the affected counties.
The Kansas Adjutant General reported there were active fires reported in Clark, Cheyenne, Comanche, Ellsworth, Finney, Ford, Hodgeman, Lane, Meade, Ness, Pratt, Pottawatomie, Rawlins, Reno, Rice, Rooks, Russell, Seward, Shawnee, Smith and Stevens Counties. Although some fires have been mostly contained, fire crews continue to monitor the burned areas for flare-ups.
Approximately 10-12,000 residents of Hutchinson, Kansas, were voluntarily evacuated due to fire risk. The cities of Wilson and Dorrance also did voluntary evacuations of their citizens. Wilson evacuated approximately 300 individuals and Dorrance approximately 100 individuals.
Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes affected portions of the state during the evening hours of Tuesday, March 6. Crawford County reported wind damage to one residence and minor damage to local businesses. Two tornadoes reportedly touched down in Wabaunsee County and one in Shawnee County.
FEMA has approved Federal Fire Management Assistance Grants for Clark, Comanche, Ellsworth, Ford, Lincoln, Ness, Rooks, and Russell Counties. Additional requests may be made as the current emergencies continue.
KDEM is seeking additional firefighting resources from other states through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact and from the National Forestry Service. A Type II Incident Management Team has also been requested.
On Monday, March 6 the Kansas Army National Guard deployed four Black Hawk helicopters from Company B, 1st Battalion, 108th Aviation Regiment out of Salina equipped with 660-gallon Bambi buckets. The helicopters dropped more than 33,600 gallons of water on the fire in Reno County.
Four helicopters equipped with Bambi buckets will launch at daylight on Tuesday, March 7, to continue to assist affected counties with fire suppression. Two helicopters and crews are based out of Topeka and two are out of Salina.
The American Red Cross opened shelters for displaced residents in Coldwater, Dodge City, Hutchinson and Jetmore. The shelter in Coldwater is located at the Coldwater High School, 600 Leavenworth Ave., and currently houses 75 residents. The shelter in Dodge City is located at the Dodge City Community College Student Activity Building, 2501 N 14th Avenue and currently houses 7 residents. The Hutchinson shelter is located at the state fairgrounds at 2000 N Poplar Street. The shelter can house 1,700 people but currently holds 210 residents. The shelter in Jetmore is located at the 4-H Building on the Hodgeman County Fairgrounds.
There are multiple road closures due to the fires. Information on the latest road closures are available from the Kansas Department of Transportation by calling 5-1-1 or visiting the Kandrive website at kandrive.org.