National Weather Service
In 2021, a once-in-a-generation weather event ravaged west-central Kansas with a combination of 100 mph winds, dust storms reminiscent of the Great Dust Bowl of the 1930s and a rare firestorm.
This wind event commenced in the mid-morning of the 15th with winds increasing through the day. Sustained winds of 60 to 75 mph were common across much of Kansas. This makes this event equivalent to a category one hurricane.
READ: Saline Countians begin to pickup, repair after a mighty wind blows through
Wind gusts ranging from 80 to 100 mph were recorded across most of western and central Kansas, with 90 mph gusts reported in Garden City, Hoxie, and numerous locations in Ellis, Trego, and Sherman counties. 100 mph wind gusts were reported in Russell.
This high wind created blinding dusts storms causing numerous accidents from low to zero visibility and high winds blowing cars and tractor-trailers off the roads.
Worst of all, the downed power lines from the high winds created numerous fires across the region with a number of them in Ellis and Russell counties coming together in a catastrophic firestorm, an event very rare for Kansas. This firestorm was impossible for firefighters to even engage forcing authorities to order mandatory evacuations of Codell, Natoma, Paradise, Waldo, and Luray.
READ:🎥 Drought double disaster as ranchers struggle to recover year after wildfire
The firestorm burned an estimated 120,000 acres, destroying 75 structures and damaging nearly 100 other structures. Four individuals were injured by the fire but tragically, approximately 1,400 cattle, horses, and other livestock perished in the fire.
This fire became known as the Four County Fire of Ellis, Russell, Rooks, and Osborne counties.