by Vivienne Leyva
Riley County PIO
RILEY COUNTY - A large wildfire is burning and spreading aggressively in the north part of Riley County this afternoon.
As of 3:00 p.m. Saturday, 2 homes have been evacuated and 11 more have been notified evacuation may be necessary.
The fire started in Pottawatomie County and crossed the northern part of Tuttle Creek Lake into Riley County Friday evening.
Weather conditions this afternoon(Saturday) are expected to cause rapid growth of wildfires due to extremely strong winds gusting to 60 mph, low humidity, and dry fuel.
Riley County Commission Chairman John Ford signed a declaration for a local disaster emergency this afternoon. The declaration allows local emergency services to request additional aid from state resources, including air support, to fight this fire.
Personnel, volunteer firefighters, and equipment resources from Riley, Marshal, Clay, the State of Kansas Wildlife and Parks, and Kansas Forest Service are on scene providing support and assistance. A firefighting aircraft has also been dispatched to the area.
Smoke could reduce visibility for drivers in the north part of the county, including the areas of Tuttle Creek Blvd/US 77 north of Randolph. Use caution and reduce speed if smoke is impacting the roadway.
Officials are asking anyone who burned outdoors within the past week to check and recheck those areas today. The strong winds can cause rekindles, and any fires outside will get out of control quickly.
In addition, Governor Laura Kelly issued a verbal state of disaster emergency proclamation at 5:14 p.m. Friday, April 5, due to increased fire weather conditions. This declaration allows resources to be used to provide state assistance.
Riley County Fire District #1 (RCFD#1) provides fire protection and emergency response in the unincorporated areas of Riley County, Kansas, including Leonardville, Ogden, and Randolph. Additionally, the department offers supplementary support to the City of Manhattan and the City of Riley. Covering approximately 500 square miles of suburban and rural terrain, this dedicated team responds to wildfires, brush fires, structure fires, vehicle accidents, medical emergencies, road hazards, gas leaks, and other disasters. Dispatched by Riley County 911, the 15 strategically located fire stations, staffed by over 120 volunteer firefighters, ensure around-the-clock emergency response and risk reduction for the community.