Governor Laura Kelly issued a Verbal Declaration of Disaster Emergency yesterday, due to the potential for wildfires in the state today and tomorrow. The Declaration will allow the State to preposition aerial firefighting assets from the Kansas Forest Service, for a quicker response to any fires that may begin. The Kansas Division of Emergency Management will activate the State Emergency Operations Center in Topeka to a Partial Level this morning, to keep in contact with County Emergency Offices and monitor weather conditions. According to the National Weather Service office in Topeka, strong winds and low relative humidity, with an abundance of dry vegetation, will once again cause extreme fire danger across Central Kansas, Saturday afternoon.
All Kansans are urged to be extra cautious. Just a single spark is enough to touch off a wildfire that can spread rapidly. The Ottawa Fire Department has, what they call their “Wild Gear”, out and ready in case they are called into action to fight wildfires this area.
The past week has seen numerous fires in the Franklin County.
