Additional firefighting resources from neighboring states begin arriving Sunday in southwest Kansas to assist local crews who have been battling wildfires over the past three days started by lightning from dry thunderstorms. Also helping with the fire are various task force units from other areas of Kansas
The Kansas Forest Service provided an update Saturday night on the three major fires in southwest Kansas.
Wolf Canyon Fire (Seward Co)
The Colorado DFPC Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA) mapped the Wolf Canyon Fire again, which started in Seward County before crossing into Oklahoma and then back into Kansas. These aircraft provide near real-time information to firefighters on the ground, helping crews track fire movement, identify hot spots, and make informed tactical decisions during fast-moving wildfire incidents.
Through partnerships with neighboring state wildfire agencies, such as Colorado DFPC, the Kansas Forest Service can request MMA support to assist with wildfire detection, reconnaissance, and response coordination. This improves firefighter safety and operational efficiency. The new perimeter map shows the fire at approximately 44,000 acres.
The increase in resources from around the state and the moderated weather helped slow the spread. Aviation was active on this fire, dropping over 30 loads from rotor-wing aircraft and utilizing Tanker 95 as needed.
Meade Lake Fire
The fire had moderate growth today. The new perimeter map shows the fire at approximately 44,000 acres. The increase in resources from around the state and the moderated weather helped slow the spread. Aviation was active on this fire, dropping over 30 loads from rotor-wing aircraft and utilizing Tanker 95 as needed.
County Road 16 Fire (Clark County)
Firefighters from all over the state arrived in Clark County today to assist with multiple fires that are still active on the landscape. The largest of them is the County Road 16 Fire. Aviation assisted ground crews in extinguishing hot spots. Firefighters will continue to patrol and mop up or extinguish hot spots. The last photo was taken by pilot Pete Hamm from a single-engine air tanker flying over the fire today.
The National Weather Service in Dodge City Saturday afternoon Sunday has the potential to be a dangerous fire weather event, with southwest winds of 25 to 35 miles an hour with higher gusts combining with low relative humidity leading to high-end critical to extreme fire danger. In central Kansas, The Wichita NWS office says very high fire danger will be present Sunday for areas west of I-135, and again Monday for portions of Central Kansas. Any kind of outdoor burning is strongly discouraged, and burn bans are in place in some counties.
