Wichita — The unusually dry winter weather has fire officials concerned that wildfires could pose a threat in Kansas this year.
Just this week there have been a dozen fires in south central Kansas, including one that burned 1,500 acres in Pratt County and came within nine feet of a house.
Because of the extremely dry and windy weather, 11 Kansas counties have banned outdoor burning and 10 others put restrictions on it. Sedgwick County is allowing people to burn trash in barrels, and those who obtained permits before Jan. 16 can still burn brush.
But the county will switch to an outright ban if grass fires start burning.
"We are prepared to go with a total ban any day," said Greg Thompson, the Sedgwick County fire marshal.
If the drought continues, some worry that this year could be as bad as 1996, when a half-million acres burned statewide, causing $60 million in damage to property.
"Right now the grass is dry and the conditions are perfect," Thompson said. "It wouldn't take a lot to have a large fire."
Because of this, officials are asking people to be extra-careful. Motorists are reminded not to toss cigarettes out of car windows, and rural residents are advised to keep lawns mowed short and watered well for at least 30 feet around their houses.
More counties are considering burn bans if it doesn't rain soon, and dry weather is forecast for the next week. Normally, counties don't issue burn bans until the summer, peaking around the Fourth of July.
A wet spring last year produced lush grass and brush. The last three months have dried out that vegetation, offering plenty of fuel for fires.
Mix in warm weather, gusting winds, low humidity and a spark from a welding torch, a cigarette, a hot exhaust pipe or a downed power line, and a fire can quickly burn out of control.
Those who live in the country or in suburbs that border open fields are most at risk.
But people in urban areas can be affected as well. Smoke from distant fires can pollute the air, aggravating asthma and raising the health risks for those with heart disease.
Butler County, to the east of Wichita, has seen an increase in residents moving out to the country, but many don't realize that the entire county is served by volunteer fire departments, said Jim Schmidt, director of emergency management. In rural areas, response time is often 10 minutes, giving the fire time to establish itself.
That makes it more important to take basic precautions, such as not stacking firewood next to your home or propane tank, building the house out of fire-resistant materials and creating a 30-foot zone around the house that is clear of brush, cedar trees and tall grass.
The 30-foot zone will give firefighters a place to set up a defense against the fire.
If you don't mow the lawn, "you are inviting disaster," Schmidt said. "It is surprising how much heat a wildfire will generate just from grass."
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