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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Officials say Kansas wildfires are under control

Rancher Greg Gardner, right, surveys some of the damage to his land after the recent wildfire. Gardiner’s family has been ranching in Clark County for five generations, having homesteaded in 1885. This week’s fires are their ranch’s worst natural disaster, killing about 500 cattle. (Michael Pearce / AP)
Associated Press

TOPEKA, Kan. – Officials say wildfires that have charred more than 1,100 square miles in Kansas are under control, prompting the state to withdraw response teams from the firefighting effort.

The Kansas Division of Emergency Management said Friday that crews in Clark County have a blaze there 70 percent contained. Containment levels in Kansas’ Comanche, Ellis, Reno and Rooks counties exceed 90 percent.

The blaze that encompassed Comanche and Clark counties along Kansas’ southern border with Oklahoma is the biggest wildfire on record in Kansas.

Since erupting last weekend, wildfires had been reported in 21 Kansas counties.

Although Kansas has no burn ban in effect, the state’s emergency management agency warns there’s still potential for grassfires because of dry conditions statewide.