ELLIS COUNTY —Fire activity Thursday near Natoma, Kansas, where Kansas fire service resources were on scene to assist local fire crews.
Heinen Brothers Agra Services Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs) assisted as fire activity increased Thursday. This aviation support follows over 20 bucket drops from Kansas National Guard Black Hawks on Thursday, according to a social media report from the Kansas Forest Service.
Nearly 400,000 acres have been impacted by wildfire, so far, due to Wednesday historic high winds combined with the drought or near drought conditions across Kansas.
Wind gusts exceeding 80 miles per hour were detected in the four county region of Ellis, Russell, Osborne and Rooks, where the largest fire occurred.
The smoke from this fire impacted most of the eastern portion of the state on Wednesday evening.
A temporary flight restriction was also in place north of Hays and Russell Kansas.