Fire danger will persist on Tuesday, even as temperature cools

After a warm, windy Monday that turned most of Kansas into a tinder box, Tuesday’s cooler temperatures should ease the fire threat somewhat across the state.

But officials in the Wichita area still want residents to exercise caution when disposing of cigarette butts and using open flames of any kind.

Controlled burns will not be allowed Tuesday, Wichita Fire Marshal Brad Crisp said, just as they were canceled Monday.

“Assuming everyone keeps behaving themselves,” a full burn ban won’t be necessary, he said.

Dry conditions, low humidity and robust winds out of the south and southwest led to a red flag warning for much of Kansas on Monday. That combination led to numerous record highs, too.

Goodland reached 89, shattering the mark for March 16 of 83 set in 2012. Colby set a record, too, reaching 84 by noon. The old mark of 82 was set in 2013.

Dodge City reached 87, easily topping the record for the date of 84 set three years ago. Hays reached 88, toppling a mark set in 1916. Liberal’s 88 tied the mark for the date, also set in 1916. Salina reached 88, crushing the record high of 84 set in 1901.

Hill City topped all of them with a record high of 94, blowing past the town’s record of 84 set in 2012.

And Wichita’s record of 83 for March 16 tied Monday with one originally set in 1908.

The thermometer will tumble on Tuesday. A cold front with robust north winds will drop highs about 25 degrees in the Wichita area.

Winds will be pretty gusty Tuesday, said Jaclyn Ritzman, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Wichita.

“We’re still looking at some very high fire danger,” Ritzman said. “Not as high as Monday, but still pretty high.”

This story was originally published March 16, 2015 at 3:10 PM with the headline "Fire danger will persist on Tuesday, even as temperature cools."