Firefighters in Kansas and Oklahoma spend another weekend battling wild fires across the state.

 

A major blaze burned over the weekend in Jefferson County, northeast of Topeka, near Oskaloosa. Forward progress on that fire was stopped as of Saturday evening as crews remained on the scene to prevent hot spots and rekindling. Locally, Wilson County Rural Fire was called to a report of a large grass fire north east of Coyville Sunday afternoon. A decision was made to allow the fire to burn as fire crews remained at the scene.

 

The Kansas Forest Service together with state and local fire agencies coordinated resources to combat the fires. Sources of the wild fires range from escaped planned burns to lightning strikes. Other fires continued across the state west of Hutchinson and near Abilene. NOAA also reports several wildfires burning over the weekend in Oklahoma in Osage and Craig Counties, near the Barnsdall and Hominy areas. Washington and Nowata Counties issued burn bans last week and are expected to revisit those bans today to determine if they will remain in place.

 

The Kansas Forest Service reminds residents that given current vegetation and weather conditions, even a small spark can quickly turn into a devastating wild fire.