Wildfire disaster declaration follows eight simultaneous blazes in Riley County
County fire department faces costly equipment replacements after ladders fail stress tests
RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — Emergency resources were stretched thin after crews battled eight simultaneous wildfires in a single afternoon, prompting a local disaster declaration.
The county fire chief told the Riley County Commission that dangerously high winds forced officials to halt all controlled burning, but existing fires spread rapidly. The commission issued emergency authorization measures to manage the countywide response.
In addition to the recent fire response, the Riley County Fire Department is facing unexpected expenses after several specialized, fire-grade ladders failed third-party stress tests. Fire officials noted the replacements will represent a significant cost to the department.
In other fleet updates, the department is preparing to place a used fire engine purchased from Texas into active service. The county also is exploring options to appraise and sell an older, retired engine through a specialized broker.
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