Thursday, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly issued a State of Disaster Emergency Declaration due to the potential risk of wildland fires. In recent years, Kansas has seen the devastating wildland fires across the state as they have destroyed crops, grazing land and threatened homes and lives. The Declaration will allow the state to use whatever resources are available to lessen the risks and respond to fires, should they occur, in support of local emergency responders. Officials say the majority of the State is at some risk of fire danger, either enhanced, significant or critical, as conditions across the state are dry with low relative humidity, strong southerly winds and an abundance of fuel for fires in the form of dry grass and other flammable vegetation. The State Emergency Operations Center in Topeka will be activated to a Partial State of Readiness through tomorrow night to monitor conditions in Central and Eastern Kansas. The Kansas National Gard will be placed on alert, if needed, for aerial fire supression support with UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopters.
