MANHATTAN, Kan. (RFD News) — Several wildfires burning across southwest Kansas have now merged into what officials say is the state’s largest active wildfire.
Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam joined us on Tuesday’s Market Day Report to discuss current fire conditions and the growing impact on rural communities and agriculture.
Beam says containment remains difficult as changing wind conditions continue complicating firefighting efforts across the region.
“There’s still several of them that are not totally contained. The number changes because some of these fires end up merging, but I looked at the situation report from this morning, and they actually have a name for ten fires,” He continued, “There’s obviously more than that, but emergency response officials have named at least 10 fires.”
During his conversation with RFD News, Beam also discussed the impact the fires are having on agricultural areas, including damage across Clark and Meade counties where more than 116,000 acres have burned.
He additionally addressed the response effort involving local fire departments and the National Guard, along with what communities need most as crews continue working to contain the fires.
Donations to the wildfire relief can be made at the Ashland Community Foundation as well as the Meade County Community Foundation.
