The Kansas Office of the State Fire Marshal announced that Governor Kelly signed a proclamation declaring the week of February 14th through 18th as Wildfire Awareness Week in Kansas.
Many residents are still overcoming the devastating wildfires that took place in December. The proclamation provides an opportunity to share information on preventing future wildfires.
Last year, Kansas fire departments responded to close to 5,000 vegetation-related fires that caused two fatalities, injured 20 people, burned over 185,000 acres and damaged more than 40 buildings.
Over 900 of these fires required counties to seek mutual-aid assistance to bring them under control. The fires also caused an estimated $4 million property damages.
The Kansas Division of Emergency Management, the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Kansas Forest Service, Kansas Firefighters Association, and Kansas State Association of Fire Chiefs are urging everyone to use extreme caution whenever doing any burning.
