http://droughtreporter.unl.edu/

v 2.4.3.0

Months of drought, high winds and dry grass continue to fuel extreme wildfire conditions across Kansas. The fires are also burning hotter and more aggressively, according to a volunteer fire captain in rural Pottawatomie County. More time and water have been needed to extinguish fires so they do not reignite later. With drought expected to persist into summer, the end of the fire season is not in sight. The number of volunteer firefighters has declined in recent years, so less manpower to battle fires leaves the remaining firefighters frustrated and exhausted after the all the fires in the last few months. Excessive rain in 2021 promoted grass growth, which presently is providing plenty of fuel for fires. Drought has stunted the growth of new green grass in spring 2022, which usually would be helpful as green grass does not burn like dead grass. High Plains Public Radio (Garden City, Kan.), April 15, 2022