MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
Residents across central and south central Kansas are being urged to avoid outdoor burning Thursday as the National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a Red Flag Warning for extreme grassland fire danger.
The warning will be in effect from noon until 8 p.m. Thursday, when weather conditions are expected to create a high risk for rapidly spreading wildfires.
Forecasters say southwest winds of 25 to 35 miles per hour, with gusts reaching up to 45 mph, combined with relative humidity levels dropping as low as 20 percent, will create dangerous fire conditions across the region.
Under these conditions, any fires that start could spread quickly and behave erratically, making them difficult for firefighters to control.
A Red Flag Warning indicates that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring or expected to develop soon. The combination of strong winds, dry air and warm temperatures can allow fires to grow rapidly, especially in dry grassland areas common across Kansas.
Officials are urging residents to avoid outdoor burning and activities that could spark a fire, such as burning brush, welding outdoors or discarding cigarettes improperly.