Drought forces firefighters to work to avoid grass fires

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (KCTV) – The Overland Park Fire Department is warning of conditions favorable for a fire to spread quickly. The department responded to a fire near Shawnee Mission East High School Monday afternoon.

The department says the fire occurred around 3 p.m. while construction crews were cutting rebar for cement work and sparks flew. This is one of 32 grass fires the department has responded to this year.

“My understanding is that they tried to put it out, but it just got out of control,” Overland Park Fire Department media manager Jason Rhodes said.

The department says those crews were unable to cope with the hot and dry conditions. The wind carried the fire from south to north until it reached the tree line when crews moved in to put it out. It’s peak fire season, and officials are calling on others to help prevent them.

“We just ask people to be extremely careful with smoking materials. If you could put them out with sand or water, that would be phenomenal. This is the best thing you can do to make sure they are completely disabled. We’re asking people to please refrain from starting fires right now,” Rhodes said.

READ MORE: A grass fire burned through “about an acre” of meadow in Overland Park, causing a brief road closure.

The Kansas Forest Service reports that 90 percent of Kansas is experiencing some form of drought, which is a breeding ground for grass fires. Fall is the state’s peak wildfire season as the grass begins to dry out. Dry air combined with heat and light rain increases the risk of fires.

“Perhaps in some cases the best decision you could make is not to start a fire just because of the impact it has on your neighbors,” said State Fire Marshal Bill Waln.

The National Park Service reports that 85 percent of fires are caused by people. The main causes are things like burning garbage on a hot windy day without monitoring the water. The service advises people to stay one step ahead, monitor the weather and listen to conditions.

“If you’re going to burn piles and clear your land, great. We encourage that and support those efforts, but understand that fire can linger on the landscape for days or weeks after you light it,” Waln said.

The Overland Park Fire Department says the majority of fires it responds to are caused by smokable materials.

The Kansas Forest Service has resources for landowners on how to safely conduct controlled burns. The agency told KCTV5 it has noticed the fires are getting larger and harder to put out.

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