Kansas Governor Laura Kelly said her Wildfire Task Force has turned in its final report with recommendations for improving the response, systems, procedures and personnel involved with wildfire events.
The governor created the task force in 2022 to look at ways Kansas communities can better prevent, respond to and recover from wildfires. The group was chaired by state agriculture secretary Mike Beam and included officials from a number of local, state and federal agencies and organizations.
The report has three sections: Mitigation and Prevention, Response, and Recovery. Recommendations include improving weather monitoring, increasing resources for local fire departments, and enhancing funding for firefighting equipment. The Task Force also recognized the significant role of volunteer firefighters and the challenges that local communities have in recruiting and retaining these volunteers.
State officials will determine the next steps in putting the Task Force recommendations into effect.
