Douglas County Consolidated Fire District No. 1, with assistance from the Kansas State Fire Marshal, has determined that an ember from an old, unattended campfire sparked the approximately 200-acre fire in Douglas County on Friday, March 14, and has classified it as accidental.

Fire Chief John Mathis, of Douglas County Consolidated Fire District No. 1, is urging residents to fully extinguish their campfires before leaving. “It’s important to stir the ashes with water until no smoke or heat persists. Your campfire should be cold to the touch before you leave,” Mathis said. “Everyone plays a valuable role in protecting property and lives by preventing fires.”

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag warning for today, March 17, and Tuesday, March 18, due to dangerous fire conditions driven by high winds and dry weather. Outdoor burning is currently prohibited in unincorporated areas of Douglas County.

“The combination of high winds and low humidity create extreme fire danger,” Mathis said. “Fires can start quickly, spread rapidly and burn intensely. Check old burn sites, extinguish embers and call 911 if you see smoke.”

The large grassfire reported on Friday, March 14, near North 1600 and East 400 Roads, east of Stull, was contained by Saturday, March 15. Firefighters from multiple agencies in Douglas County and the surrounding area battled near hurricane-force wind gusts to control the fire. An evacuation notice was issued for about two hours Friday evening. Fortunately, no structures were destroyed, and no injuries were reported.

Most of the affected land is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

Since 6 a.m. Friday, the Douglas County Emergency Communications Center has received 43 grassfire-related calls. Within a 24-hour period, Consolidated Fire District No. 1 responded to at least 20 separate grassfires.

For fire safety prevention tips, visit: https://firemarshal.ks.gov.