Burning restricted in Wichita, Sedgwick County through April

April’s arrival means burn restrictions will once again be in place in Wichita and Sedgwick County.

The restrictions — banning everything except outdoor cooking on grills — are instituted to reduce ozone levels in the region so increases caused by the seasonal burning of the Flint Hills grasslands do not pull Wichita out of compliance with federal guidelines.

“If we were to go out of compliance, it would cost the city tens of millions of dollars,” said Baylee Cunningham, air quality specialist for the city of Wichita.

Federal officials could then potentially force Wichita gas pumps to provide a more expensive grade of gasoline to reduce emissions, Cunningham said, and require vehicle inspections that would be time-consuming and costly for motorists.

High ozone levels can have adverse effects on the health of children, seniors and people with asthma or chronic respiratory disease.

Last week’s massive grass fires southwest of Wichita caused brief spikes in the ozone readings for the city, Cunningham said, but did not affect the eight-hour averages that federal officials monitor.

The burn restrictions forbid the burning of trees, brush, crop residue, construction debris and yard waste, Fire Marshal Brad Crisp said.

Wichita Mayor Jeff Longwell encouraged motorists to carpool when possible, reduce idling and fill fuel tanks in the late afternoon or evening to reduce the impact on ozone.

“So much of what creates the ozone issues and the air quality issues happen outside the parameter of what we can control,” Longwell said. “That makes what we can control more critical.”

Ozone season stretches from April through October.

This story was originally published March 31, 2016 at 12:28 PM with the headline "Burning restricted in Wichita, Sedgwick County through April."