Gov. Sam Brownback has issued an emergency declaration for nine counties of central and north-central Kansas, citing the risk of wildfires.

Counties covered by the declaration issued Wednesday evening are Barton, Ellis, Ellsworth, Lincoln, Mitchell, Osborne, Phillips, Rooks and Russell.

The Kansas Division of Emergency Management says a large grass fire in Phillips County was contained Wednesday evening, as were fires in Rooks and Ellis counties. Other fires were contained earlier Wednesday in Russell County, and near Great Bend in Barton County.

Some of the counties covered by the declaration were included because they may be in the path of spreading fires.

Emergency Management spokeswoman Sharon Watson says there were no reports of evacuations or injuries or of houses being damaged, although some farm buildings and outbuildings have been affected.