HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A map of the possible changes in rules and zoning regulations in land prone to wildfires could be better known on Tuesday. That’s when the Reno County Commission will discuss avenues for dealing with the rangeland fire danger in the county.
In May, commissioners instructed the Emergency Management Office to coordinate with various organizations to come up with recommendations to better coordinate/mitigate the fire risk in the county. The focus is on the higher-risk areas of the county.
On Aug. 4, 2021, Reno County Emergency Management met with the Kansas Forest Service, a USDA Rangeland Management Specialist, the Reno County Agriculture Extension Agent, the County Planner, and the Hutchinson Fire Department to discuss ideas to mitigate wildfire activity in the county. At that meeting, they discussed several ideas that included zoning, education, tax incentives, fuel breaks, and enforcement of the county’s current burn resolution.
A 2009 study by the Kansas Forest Service showed that high fire hazards exist east of Kent Road and South of 4th Avenue, 4th Avenue from Obee to Mayfield roads, 30th near Sand Dunes Drive, the Prairie Dunes area, 30th at Inverness, Blue Spruce north of the city, Rolling Hills and the Highlands.
The report also shows that the county is losing a battle against the red cedar encroachment, causing high fire danger. While there are many ways to mitigate the risk of wildfire, the most successful would be the prioritization of fuel reduction, according to the report.
The commission will also discuss zoning issues and how to deal with how the land and homesteads are developed and maintained. And the meeting will include more discussion on how to better educate the public and convince them to provide what Hutchinson Fire Chief Steve Beer says is a defensible property. That would mean keeping cedar trees away from property, having a metal roof on the home and buildings, and providing a large defensible zone around the home.
Finally, the meeting will include how to put more teeth into enforcing controlled burns and holding people responsible for keeping those fires under control. The county study session will follow the regular agenda session on Tuesday.
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