Kansas Forest Service

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We are thrilled to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Brad Ilonummi as our Southwest District Fire Management Officer...
06/01/2026

We are thrilled to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Brad Ilonummi as our Southwest District Fire Management Officer for the Kansas Forest Service!

Brad works every day to support fire departments through training, wildfire response, and community education. We are so appreciative of Brad's hard work keeping Kansas communities safe! Congratulations Brad!

Earlier this month, we issued a 2001 F350 Brush truck, original value of $61,000, to the Burdett Fire Department in Pawn...
05/29/2026

Earlier this month, we issued a 2001 F350 Brush truck, original value of $61,000, to the Burdett Fire Department in Pawnee County. The truck was donated by the US Fish and Wildlife Marais Des Cygnes. Burdett covers an area of approximately 100 square miles, much of which is open, often muddy terrain that requires lighter, more agile vehicles. The size of their district also necessitates faster, lighter vehicles that can respond to fires farther away.

The department shared that prior to being issued this vehicle, Burdett's newest truck was a 1987 brush truck, and they operate on an annual budget of approximately $10,000 from the city's general fund. Chief Shaun Boese was very happy with the new addition to their fleet and looks forward to participating in Kansas Forest Service excess property programs in the future!

🗺️In this month's episode of the Kansas Canopy Podcast, we sit down with GIS Analyst Chester Hubbard to explore how mapp...
05/27/2026

🗺️In this month's episode of the Kansas Canopy Podcast, we sit down with GIS Analyst Chester Hubbard to explore how mapping technology is being put to work for Kansas landowners, communities, and firefighters. 🔥 🌲

From tools that help you map your own property to interactive dashboards tracking wildfire activity, Chester shares how GIS is making complex data more accessible and actionable. Whether you're managing land, planning community tree plantings, or responding to wildfire, this episode highlights practical tools designed to support smarter decisions across the state.

Listen now: https://buff.ly/8Ag6vxN

We are thrilled to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Madison Reed as our Northwest District Fire Management Officer ...
05/25/2026

We are thrilled to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Madison Reed as our Northwest District Fire Management Officer for the Kansas Forest Service!

In his role, Madison supports fire departments in the northwest part of the state by providing wildland fire training and community preparedness. (+saving kittens when called 🐈️)

Congratulations, Madison, we appreciate your dedication to serving firefighters and Kansans!

Over 200 firefighters from at least 52 counties and 7 states left their jobs, families, and traveled hundreds of miles t...
05/21/2026

Over 200 firefighters from at least 52 counties and 7 states left their jobs, families, and traveled hundreds of miles to help protect the life and property of those in Clark, Meade, and Morton Counties. Join us in thanking these dedicated firefighters who represented these counties and states for all their hard work.

Firefighters from Anderson, Barber, Barton, Brown, Butler, Camanche, Cherokee, Clark, Coffey, Cowley, Crawford, Dickinson, Edwards, Ellis, Finney, Ford, Geary, Grant, Gray, Greenwood, Hamilton, Haskell, Hodgeman, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Kearny, Kiowa, Kingman, Labette, Lane, Lincoln, Lyon, Marion, Marshall, McPherson, Meade, Miami, Mitchell, Montgomery, Morton, Ness, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Pratt, Reno, Rice, Riley, Rush, Saline, Scott, Sedgwick, Seward, Shawnee, Stanton, Stevens, Sumner, and Wyandotte.

Engine crews and additional support also came from Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Wyoming.

Many in Clark, Meade, and Morton Counties have a long road ahead of them. As this phase of the fire ends, please continue to keep these communities in your thoughts and support those rebuilding in its aftermath. The strength, resilience, and generosity shown over the past week are a powerful reminder that in times of crisis, neighbors helping neighbors make all the difference.

On his way home from the fire area, Southeast District Fire Management Officer Aaron Williams captured a striking rainbow stretching across the sky in Clark County. After days of smoke, exhaustion, and difficult fire conditions, the image felt like a fitting reminder of this past week. Storms eventually give way to clearer skies, and even in the hardest moments, there are signs of hope and resilience ahead.

🔥 Wildfire Update – May 20, 2026 🔥With much relief, firefighters will be returning home as fires in Meade and Clark Coun...
05/20/2026

🔥 Wildfire Update – May 20, 2026 🔥
With much relief, firefighters will be returning home as fires in Meade and Clark Counties are in the final mop-up or hot-spot extinguishing phase.
Meade Lake Complex: 95% Contained
Herman Ranch Complex: 80% Contained

While there has been no true end to the fire season in southwest Kansas, this battle is finally coming to a close. Lightning-started fires are not typical in Kansas, but with current landscape conditions, we have witnessed a very real threat that western states have long dealt with.

Vegetation remains extremely dry, and warm, dry conditions are expected to return this weekend. There is very little we can do about the weather, but we can change our behavior. For the sake of our local heroes and communities, please be mindful of any outdoor activity that could start a fire.

Activities such as mowing, welding, outdoor grilling, campfires, dragging chains while driving, or parking equipment in tall grass or crop fields can all spark a wildfire under these conditions. Don’t be the reason for the next wildfire.

🗺️ Current and final map of Southwest Kansas Wildfire Outbreak.
📸 Firefighters from Palisade CO Fire Department mopping up on the Meade County Complex. - KFS M. Ziegler

🔥 Evening Wildfire Update I May, 19, 2026 🔥 Due to the amazing work of over 200 firefighters and a slight reprieve in we...
05/20/2026

🔥 Evening Wildfire Update I May, 19, 2026 🔥

Due to the amazing work of over 200 firefighters and a slight reprieve in weather conditions, both the Herman Ranch Complex and the Meade Lake Complex saw containment increase today. The new map covers only the Herman Ranch Complex. The new growth is from the significant push to the south on Monday night when the wind shifted out of the north.

Herman Ranch Complex:
33,694 acres
30% Containment

Meade Lake Complex:
92,733 acres
70% Containment

The precipitation that eastern Kansas received did not fall in the fire area last night. However, today cooler temperatures and slightly higher humidity allowed firefighters to make good progress on the fires. Tomorrow's weather will again be favorable for firefighters to continue mopping up or extinguishing hot spots around the fire area. There may be areas within the fire perimeter that smolder and produce smoke in the coming days.

📸 Photos from Clark County Hermn Ranch Complex: Aerial NG recon flight and fixed wing aviation assisting ground crews with securing the fire perimeter. - DFMO A. Williams

05/19/2026

🔥Afternoon Wildfire Update I May 19, 2026🔥

Assistant Fire Management Officer Rodney Redinger provides today's operational update.

🔥 Herman Ranch Complex
35,455 acres
30% contained
The 500-Acre Pond Fire and the Herman Ranch Fire grew together on Sunday May, 17, 2026, and are now called the Herman Ranch Complex. The complex will include the Bouziden Ranch Fire and the Lexington Fire.

🔥 Meade Lake Complex
92,733 acres
70% contained
The Meade County Fires are now called the Meade Lake Complex. The fires under the Meade Lake Complex are the Wolf Canyon Fire, the Meade County Complex 1 and 2, the Proffitt Lake fire, and the 2 unstaffed fires in the southern part of the county.

05/18/2026

🔥 The Herman Ranch Fire in Clark County is making a rapid push to Highway 160. The wind shift has hit the southern boundary of the fire, and that perimeter has become active again. If you are south of the fire area, please heed local law enforcement's instructions. More fire response vehicles are heading in that direction.

📹️ Herman Ranch Fire making a push south - KFS C. Hanson

🔥 Monday, May 18, 2026 – Afternoon Fire Update 🔥As expected, firefighters are experiencing challenging fire behavior thi...
05/18/2026

🔥 Monday, May 18, 2026 – Afternoon Fire Update 🔥

As expected, firefighters are experiencing challenging fire behavior this afternoon.

Extremely dry air is causing flare-ups along the southeast perimeter of the Herman Ranch Fire in Clark County. Tanker 95 continues to support ground crews responding to this activity. Due to high winds, all other aviation resources remain grounded.

Dry lightning has also been detected in areas impacted by fires in Meade and Clark Counties. Firefighters are working to strengthen firelines ahead of an expected wind shift from the southwest to the north as a cold front moves into the area.

At this time, there has been no significant change in fire acreage or containment in either county.

If you are in or near the fire area, remain aware of rapidly changing conditions. Areas with little fire activity may become active as winds increase and shift direction.

The Kansas Forest Service has initiated an InciWeb page for incident updates. InciWeb is an interagency incident information system designed to provide the public and media with a centralized source for wildfire information.

➡️ Public incident information
➡️ Standardized wildfire reporting updates

🌐 https://buff.ly/EvfY6bb

📸 Photos from Thursday’s initial attack operations.
Kansas Forest Service DFMO M. Reed and B. Ilonummi

Address

2610 Claflin Road
Manhattan, KS
66502

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