Kansas wildfire on the wane, but weather conditions right for more fires
Barber County’s wildfire stayed 81 percent contained Monday, but officials cautioned residents about the warm, dry weather forecast that could present an “extreme fire weather risk.”
The forecast comes after a snowfall early Easter morning that helped tame the wildfire, which burned so intensely it could be seen via satellite images.
The snow brought enough moisture to end Comanche County’s portion of the fire but not enough to extinguish all the flames in Barber County.
Firefighters in Barber County continued to monitor and water hot spots that flared where the snow couldn’t reach, such as canyons, drainage areas or large, deep-smoldering logs.
Outside agencies that have helped with the wildfire are leaving Barber County this week. That process started Monday and could take until Friday.
Officials said nine structures were destroyed in the fire. They did not specify whether those were homes, outbuildings or barns.
The process of collecting damage estimates has not yet begun. But officials said the cost from outside agency help alone mounts to more than $1 million.
That number does not include Barber County’s costs and some state costs. It also does not include damage to property, including farmland, livestock and homes and barns that burned.
Comanche County
John Lehman, emergency manager for Comanche County, said firefighters in the county no longer had to monitor the fire area.
“We were pretty surprised when we woke up and saw snow,” Lehman said Monday.
He said the snow was better than rain.
“It really soaks down and doesn’t have a lot of runoff,” he said.
Lehman said he wasn’t sure when property owners would start being surveyed for damage estimates.
A Comanche County power company, he said, will need to replace or repair at least 25 power poles that burned in the fire. He said the company had not yet counted power lines lost.
Lehman said power went out for only a short period in the south-central part of the county.
Gabriella Dunn: 316-268-6400, @gabriella_dunn
How to help
▪ T-shirts: Different groups are selling wildfire T-shirts and will donate proceeds to rural fire departments and those affected by the wildfire.
Small Town Tees & Gifts in Kiowa will sell two styles, each for $20, beginning Wednesday. To order, call 620-825-4557.
Another group in Medicine Lodge will sell a different style T-shirt for $10, or $20 if shipped. To order, e-mail wildfireshirts@yahoo.com or finchers@sctelcom.net.
▪ Fire relief resources: The Kansas Farm Bureau will connect those donating supplies like fencing, building materials and labor to those in need. The site address is www.kfb.org/firerelief.
▪ Fire relief donations: Checks made out to the Kansas Farm Bureau Foundation with “fire relief efforts” in the memo will go to counties affected by the wildfire. Mail the checks to 2627 KFB Plaza, Manhattan, KS 66503.
▪ Donations to ranchers: The Kansas Livestock Foundation will help cover ranchers’ expenses from the fire, such as fencing supplies and veterinary expenses. Donations can be made at http://www.kla.org/donationform.aspx or mailed to 6031 SW 37th St., Topeka, KS 66614. Write “disaster relief” in the memo line for checks.
▪ Benefit auction: A heifer donated by David Clawson, a rancher near Ashland, will be sold Thursday at Pratt Livestock, 30274 E. U.S. 54, beginning at noon.
The heifer will be continuously resold throughout the afternoon to raise money for ranchers affected by the wildfire. A final donor will take the heifer at the end of the day.
To place a donation to be read aloud as a bid at the event, call Pratt Livestock at 620-672-5961. Donations should be made to the Kansas Livestock Foundation.
▪ Benefit bull sale: KW Cattle Co. will donate proceeds from the sale of an Angus bull to the Kansas Livestock Foundation. The bull will be sold Tuesday at the KW sale near Fort Scott. For more information on the bull, called Lot 21, go to www.kwcattle.com.
This story was originally published March 28, 2016 at 11:43 AM with the headline "Kansas wildfire on the wane, but weather conditions right for more fires."