by BECKY GOFF
Little Apple Post
RILEY COUNTY - Riley County Fire District #1 was dispatched at 1:45 pm to High Plains Trail at the north end of Seth Child Road, where volunteer fire crews found an illegally started fire had gotten out of control.
RCFD #1 estimates the fire burned 60 acres and damaged an Evergy electrical transformer junction box.
No one lost power as a result of the damage. Two homes were threatened by the fire, but no evacuations were required and no structures were lost.
No injuries were reported with this fire.
Eighteen RCFD#1 volunteers and personnel responded to the fire with 10 fire apparatus. Four Manhattan Fire Department personnel with one MFD brush truck responded as mutual aid.
“This was a difficult fire to fight and I called for mutual aid from the Manhattan Fire Department because I knew we would need additional help to get it under control,” said Deputy Chief Doug Russell. “The terrain was steep and the strong wind swirled in the valleys, creating small fire tornadoes. I’m grateful we had enough personnel available to attack this fire quickly and protect the neighboring homes.”
Riley County Fire District #1 had issued a burn ban earlier in the day, and sent multiple public notifications about the dangerous conditions prior to the fire.
Riley County regulations require all burn permit holders to notify local authorities before outdoor burning begins, and to only burn when weather conditions allow. Permit holders are also required to have adequate equipment and manpower to conduct the burn safely.
Due to the property owner failing to follow the terms of the burn permit process, the Riley County Police Department issued a citation to the property owner for the violation.
“The first step in the process to conduct an outdoor burn is to contact Riley County Emergency Management or visit our website to apply for a free burn permit. Staff will share advice and information for conducting the burn safely,” said Russell.
Dangerous fire conditions are expected for the next few days, with the National Weather Service issuing a Wind Advisory in effect from noon on March 30th until 4:00 a.m. on March 31st.
Outdoors burning continues to be banned in Riley County during the dangerous fire conditions.
For more information about burn permits or to apply to serve as a volunteer with Riley County Fire District #1, visit www.rileycountyks.gov/fire or call 785-537-6333 during business hours.
The Kansas Forest Service also provides prescribed burning classes to property owners. More information is available at https://www.kansasforests.org/fire_management/prescribedfire.html
Sign up for emergency notifications, including burn condition notices, at www.rileycountyks.gov/alerts