Elk County Rural Fire Department

07/07/2026

Today Elk County Rural Fire Department received a donation of a full pallet of canned water (2,352 cans) from Anheuser-Busch through the National Volunteer Fire Council. We’re proud to be one of the roughly 600 departments nationally to receive this donation to help keep us hydrated during wildfires and extended responses.

A big thank you to Demo Distributors for coordinating and delivering the water to our station!

Each year, Anheuser-Busch pauses beer production to produce emergency drinking water, and in partnership with National Volunteer Fire Council, ensures volunteer firefighters have the critical hydration they need during extreme heat.

Learn more about Anheuser-Busch’s Emergency Drinking Water for Wildland Firefighters program at: www.nvfc.org/water.



Pictured L to R:
Travis Tennyson, Demo Dir of Sales, Capt. Nick Miller, Chief Todd Winscher and Brad Demo, Demo Sales.
Not pictured: Zach Tuggle, Best Beverage (taking the picture)

05/20/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lyon County Fire District #5 was requested via the Kansas Division of Emergency Management to respond to southwest Kansas for multiple on-going wildfires. LCFD #5 responded with a task force consisting of Olpe Fire, Coffey County Fire District #1 (Lebo and Leroy), and Osage County Fire District #3 Melvern/Olivet.

Crews were initially assigned to monitor hot spots around the perimeter of the Herman Ranch Fire. A large grass fire developed and began moving quickly towards the town of Meade, Kansas and crews were redirected. While crews were fighting the fire, conditions deteriorated rapidly and units were advised to get to safety. Heavy brush truck 5542 experienced an unexpected mechanical failure. Multiple attempts to start it were unsuccessful. The crew abandoned the vehicle as the fire was quickly approaching. A fire unit in the response line immediately stopped, loaded the firefighters, and transported them to safety. There were no injuries to either firefighter. The truck sustained significant damage and will likely be considered a total loss.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the firefighters of Kiowa County and the Minneola Fire Departments who acted quickly and courageously to ensure the safety of our personnel. This incident underscores the extreme risks Kansas firefighters face while working to contain fast moving wildfires under volatile conditions. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the firefighters, ranchers, and residents in the area who have been affected by the fires.

LCFD #5 will not provide any additional comment at this time. All inquiries related to this incident should be directed to the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Greg Zumbrunn
Fire Chief
Lyon County Fire District #5
Hartford/Neosho Rapids, Kansas

03/31/2026

Burn Permits will be available after 3pm today. The winds are expected to significantly reduce this evening and rains forecast over next few days could hinder or delay the ability to burn.

03/29/2026

With high winds of 30+mph for most of today (3/29) no burn permits will be issued. Same conditions are forecast for Monday as well.

Please make sure any burns you may have done yesterday are out or safe.

Today, Monday, and Tuesday will feature VERY HIGH grassland fire danger areawide, due to above average temperatures and stout/gusty south-southwest winds. A strong cold front is slated to blast south through the region Tuesday, switching winds to northerly. Not anticipating a Red Flag Warning any of these days though given marginal relative humidity mostly in the 30s percent. Nevertheless, given the fuel load, forecast wind speeds, and above average temperatures, any fires that get going may be difficult to get under control.

03/28/2026

03/27/2026

With the Winds beginning to slow down and the humidity rising Burn Permits are now being issued.

Please remember to notify the Elk County Sheriff's office at 620-374-2108 before you burn and again when your burn is out.

03/27/2026

No Burn Permits will be issued today 3/27.

Wind Advisory this morning. Winds will gust up to 40mph early and then let up some by noon but still expected to exceed 25mph for most of the day.

Very High fire danger will continue to be a concern for much of the
area on Friday through Tuesday each afternoon. Post-frontal
northerly winds and drier air will be the primary driver on Friday
while breezy south to southwest winds return on Saturday through
Tuesday. Temperatures will once again warm above normal on Sunday through Tuesday.

03/27/2026

Well said.

03/26/2026

EXTREME and peaking into CATASTROPHIC Grassland Fire Danger today. Red Flag Warning has been issued. Burn ban will be in effect all day and no burn permits will be issued.

If you observe smoke Dial 911 and report it to the Elk County Sheriff's Office.

From NWS:
RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR EXTREME GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER FOR ALL OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS AND PARTS OF SOUTHEAST KANSAS...

The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a Red Flag Warning for extreme grassland fire danger, which is in effect from 1 PM this afternoon to 9 PM CDT this evening. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* Extreme Grassland Fire Danger...

* Winds...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 22 percent.

* Impacts...Any fires that develop will have the potential to spread quickly and behave erratically.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

03/25/2026

A Fire Weather Watch has been issued due to tomorrow's forecast weather conditions of 40+ mph winds and low humidity. Extreme Fire Danger is expected. No burn permits will be issued tomorrow.

From NWS:
FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING FOR EXTREME GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER FOR ALL OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS AND PARTS OF SOUTHEAST KANSAS...

The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a Fire Weather Watch for extreme grassland fire danger, which is in effect from Thursday afternoon through Thursday evening.

* Extreme Grassland Fire Danger...

* Winds...Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph, shifting to the north behind a strong cold front.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 21 percent.

* Impacts...Any fires that develop will have the potential to spread quickly and behave erratically.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A fire weather watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible red flag warnings.