The National Weather Service in Wichita has forecast a very high to extreme grassland fire danger today. An Extreme Fire Warning is in effect for much of south-central Kansas until 7 this evening.
Conditions have reached a critical level in regard to the possible spread of fire, and those conditions continue to deteriorate. The area is very dry, high winds are forecast, and there has been a drastic drop in the relative humidity.
The National Weather Service is urging residents to postpone outside burning until circumstances improve, which will likely be several days. There is a likelihood of extreme fire behavior, including rapid flame spread, extreme fire growth and an unpredictable pattern of how flames will spread.
In a press release, Deputy Chief Scott Metzler with Newton Fire and EMS said the present conditions are the highest-level fire warnings he has ever seen.
