4/18/18 Auburn wildfire a reminder about fire danger

AUBURN, Kan. (WIBW) -- A wildfire that was contained Wednesday is a good reminder about wild fire prevention.

Auburn Fire Chief Scott Hunt said that high winds spread a small acreage fire in Auburn. He said the winds also helped reignite the fire.

“It’s so dry and the wind flares it up even with water,” Hunt said. “The water evaporates and now you have the hot embers underneath starting the fire again."

Hunt said when people think they can control a fire in dry windy climates it can put others at risk.

"Anytime that we lose control of a fire up here or somebody thinks they can burn in high winds, or thinks they got the fire out, and it comes up windy the next day,” Hunt said. “It’s blowing an ember into something that isn’t burnt."

The state's emergency operations center has activated several times already this year for fires like the one late Wednesday that burned 14-thousand acres in Morton and Santon counties.

The EOC's Deputy Manager Devan Tucking said you can take steps to prevent wild fires, such as keeping your lawn mown and cleaning up debris.

"Above all during days when we have a high wild fire danger, don't throw cigarettes on the ground, avoid any activities that might throw or emit a spark, and be very careful and diligent,” Tucking said.

She added that even on days where the fire danger is low, they have had to assist in firefighting response.

Auburn fire received assistant from Dover, Mission, Shawnee Heights and the 190th Air Refueling Wing.

Katie Horner, Spokesperson for the Adjutant General's Office, gave the following statement:

After every major disaster we do an after action report and hold numerous meetings to identify what we can improve. With the worse wild land fires two years in a row and a continuation of an extreme drought, the Adjutant General chose to adopt a more proactive stance.

 

https://www.wibw.com/content/news/Auburn-wildfire-a-reminder-about-fire-danger-480203853.html