Kansas City, MO – Windy and extremely dry conditions are creating a dangerous fire environment across eastern Kansas and northern Missouri Friday, where even a small spark could spread quickly across fields, brush, and open land.
A Red Flag Warning remains in effect until 8 p.m. Friday across much of the Kansas City region and northern Missouri. Fire crews warn that grass fires could move rapidly due to dry vegetation combined with steady winds.
According to the National Weather Service in Kansas City/Pleasant Hill, sustained north winds of 15 to 20 mph with gusts around 25 mph will combine with relative humidity dropping as low as 15 to 25 percent through the afternoon and evening. Those conditions significantly increase the likelihood that any fire could grow out of control.
The warning covers much of eastern Kansas including Atchison, Leavenworth, Wyandotte, Johnson, Miami and Linn counties, along with a wide swath of northern and western Missouri. Counties impacted include Buchanan, Platte, Clay, Jackson, Cass, Andrew, Nodaway, Holt, Clinton, Caldwell and Daviess, along with several others across northern Missouri.
Emergency officials strongly discourage any outdoor burning, including brush piles, campfires, or agricultural burns. Sparks from equipment, trailers dragging chains, or discarded cigarettes could ignite dry grass and spread quickly under the gusty winds.
The fire risk will return Saturday from noon until 8 p.m., when winds shift to the south but remain strong near 20 mph with similar low humidity levels.
Officials say additional alerts could be issued if dry conditions continue into the weekend.
