One person was injured, a farm home was destroyed and an undetermined amount of acres were burned in a grass fire Monday in Kearny County. Around 1 p.m. Monday, a fire started along Highway 25 at mile marker 86 near Lakin. At that time, the Kearny County Sheriff’s Office says there was a strong wind from the west. The fire spread quickly because of the dry vegetation and lack of recent rainfall. Kearny County Emergency Services responded to the fire, and received assistance from Stanton County, Grant County and Garden City. Crews were battling wind gusts in excess of 30 miles per hour, as well as extremely rugged terrain, which made it difficult to contain the fire. The Kansas Forestry Service was notified, and will be using electronic equipment to measure how many acres were charred. In addition to acres of grass, a home was destroyed by the fire. One Kearny County resident, who was acting on their own trying to stop the fire, was injured, though their condition is unknown. Kearny County emergency preparedness director Jared Webb has declared a verbal emergency with the state, emergency operations center and with the state emergency operations center, and had assistance from them at getting air support to drop water from aircraft.  The declaration will be in effect until county commissioners rescind it.
Source: KAKE – News

One person and four cats were evacuated from a burning home in Hutchinson on Monday. Around 1 p.m., the Hutchinson Fire Department responded to the 200 block of West 28th Street for the report of a structure fire. Upon arrival, crews found smoke pushing out of the front door out of a single-story home.  Dispatch reported to units that there was a possible occupant inside trying to get pets out. Crews operated in an offensive strategy by stretching a hose line to the front door.  The first crew that arrived on scene was able to hear the occupant inside the home, and made entry to perform rescue.  The occupant was removed from the home and checked by Reno County EMS.  Crews started an aggressive attack in the kitchen area of the home, and were able to extinguish the fire quickly.  Search crews cleared the home and rescued four cats. The Hutchinson Police Department, Reno County EMS, Kansas Gas, Evergy and the Hutchinson-Reno County Communications Center assisted.
Source: KAKE – News

Warmer conditions, strong winds and low relative humidities will create high to very-high fire weather conditions for many parts of the state. “Weather conditions are such that a high risk exists for wildland fires,” Governor Kelly said. “I urge everyone across the state to use extreme caution and avoid burning, if at all possible. A single spark is enough to touch off a fire that could have devastating consequences.” “We can all do our part to prevent unwanted fires,” Rodney Redinger, Assistant Fire Management Officer, Kansas Forest Service, said. “If there are opportunities to avoid welding, using cutting torches or other activities that could cause a spark, please do so over the next few days. If you must engage in spark-causing activities, make sure to have a fire extinguisher, water pressure can or other tool for extinguishing ready for a fire that could ignite.” The Kansas Division of Emergency Management will staff the State Emergency Operations Center starting tomorrow to assist counties and local responders if requested.
Source: KAKE – News

Seventy-seven school buildings in approximately 29 districts across the state have implemented a four-day week this year, up from 60 in 2023. As more Kansas public schools adapt to a shorter academic week, rural communities may see benefits. Rural school districts already contain the majority of the state’s four-day scheduled schools. “It’s been a hot topic,” said Randy Watson, KBOE Commissioner of education, in a Feb. 14 Kansas State Board of Education meeting. Watson said most districts were having discussions about the possibility of implementing four-day weeks, especially in smaller, more rural areas. Since 2011, 93 Kansas school buildings have tested a four-day schedule, although some of the districts have returned to a typical five-day schedule. First proposed as a way to save money in some districts, the four-day week also has been utilized for teacher recruitment. Kansas State Department of Education researchers examined the 2022-2023 school year population of 54 buildings using a four-day school week and 1,335 buildings using a five-day school week to compare learning outcomes. They looked at public and private elementary, middle, junior high and high schools with state assessment data for that school year. The majority of the four-week scheduled schools are in more rural areas with smaller student enrollment.
Source: KAKE – News