Allen County isn’t currently at risk of fire danger, but an extended stretch of hot, dry weather has prompted Woodson County officials to enact a burn ban, effective immediately.
Jason Trego, Allen County Emergency Management director, said he is more concerned about the safety of firefighters who might be called to fight a variety of fires, including grass fires, while temperatures are near or above 100 degrees.
Many residents continue to clean up after a July 14 storm by burning piles of downed tree limbs and brush. Farmers who conduct controlled burning have not had problems with fires spreading outside the designated area, Trego said. Most call the county dispatch center to report their plans.
“We’re not seeing any issues and I want to chalk that up to our citizens being vigilant and knowing what to do and when to do it,” Trego said.
Spring is more dangerous for out-of-control fires, he said, although this summer has been notable for hot, dry conditions.
All of Allen County is in moderate to extreme drought, though the majority falls into the “severe drought” category. The county remains 5.49 inches short of a typical amount of precipitation at this point of the year. 
Trego said he doesn’t plan to ask county commissioners for a burn ban. Requests for a ban typically come to Trego from local fire chiefs. County officials typically try not to restrict open burning unless conditions are dangerous, Trego said.
Trego also consults the Grassland Fire Danger Index and other sources. Currently, the index does not report any fire danger for Allen County.
WOODSON County has ranked among the driest counties in the state, according to weather reports from Kansas State University.
The county has received 1.5 inches of rain over the past month, less than half of what’s averaged. Over the past year, the county is more than 16 inches below normal.
And there is little relief in sight.
Forecasts call for a slight chance of rain Sunday, but otherwise dry conditions through next week, with highs ranging from the upper 80s to the mid 90s.
The burn ban will remain in effect until it is called off by Woodson County commissioners.
FIRE DANGERS have come to the forefront after a massive wildfire, stoked by winds from a hurricane, destroyed the town of Lahaina in Maui, Hawaii. Hundreds are missing and feared dead.
Local officials there were criticized for not sounding outdoor alarm sirens as the fire spread.
