The Marion County Wildland Fire Task Force and Kansas Forest Service pre-positioned resources to southwest Kansas on Tuesday due to the forecast for critical fire danger. | Download this photo.
Volunteer fire departments pre-position in southwest Kansas to assist neighboring counties should a wildfire occur
The Marion County Wildland Task Force and Kansas Forest Service resources placed assets in Grant County on Tuesday afternoon due to forecast critical fire weather danger
April 10, 2019
ULYSSES, Kan. — The Marion County Wildland Fire Task Force was mobilized and pre-positioned in Grant County to support local fire departments in the event of a wildfire.
The task force was pre-positioned in response to the Kansas Forest Service request due to the critical fire danger in Grant and surrounding counties on Tuesday and Wednesday. The task force consists of four wildland fire engines, a water tanker and 10 firefighters.
“We are very pleased to work with the folks from Kansas Forest Service and the folks in Grant County,” said Lest Kaiser, chief of Marion County Fire District No. 5 and leader of the Marion County Wildland Task Force. “While Grant County isn't an immediate neighbor to us, they're still a Kansas neighbor, and our volunteers have willingly given up work shifts and personal time to be able to assist them if needed.”
Along with the Marion County Task Force, the Kansas Forest Service pre-positioned a wildland fire engine with four personnel along with overhead including a task force leader and incident commander.
KFS continues to coordinate with agency partners including local fire authorities, other state agencies and federal partners during this fire danger event.
