Wildfire Response
Empowering fire departments to provide better service to Kansans through training, equipment, and financial assistance.
The Kansas Forest Service works closely with local fire departments and emergency management agencies across the state to respond to wildfires. Through personnel, equipment, aviation resources, and logistical support, the Kansas Forest Service is committed to enhancing wildfire response and protecting lives, property, and natural resources.
Information and Resources
Understanding current and forecasted fire weather conditions is crucial for safe burning, effective fire management, and maintaining situational awareness. The following tools and resources provide up-to-date information on weather, fuels, and fire danger across Kansas and beyond. Kansas Mesonet The Kansas Mesonet is a network of over 90 automated weather stations throughout the state. These stations collect real-time, high-resolution weather and climate data such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, and soil moisture. Kansas Forest Service Fire Weather Outlook Blog The Fire Weather Outlook Blog is created by Kansas Forest Service Incident Meteorologists to highlight weekly fire weather concerns and patterns. This resource provides deeper context into atmospheric conditions, expected fire danger, and potential shifts in fire activity. National Weather Service The National Weather Service provides general and local weather forecasts to help producers, emergency managers, and firefighters maintain situational awareness. Offers fire-specific forecasts, weather warnings, and links to predictive services and red flag warnings that may affect fire behavior. NOAA Storm Prediction Center – Fire Weather Outlook The Fire Weather Outlooks from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center highlight regions of the continental U.S. where fuel conditions and forecasted weather are likely to contribute to a heightened wildfire risk. Products include Day 1–8 outlooks, identifying areas of elevated or critical fire danger due to dry fuels, strong winds, or low humidity. Hot Spot Satellite Links These resources help fire managers, landowners, and producers determine when it’s safe to burn and how current conditions may influence fire behavior. Monitoring fuel moisture, drought status, and forecast indices ensures responsible and effective fire use. If your department needs wildfire suppression support:
Use the Fire Danger dashboard to check current fire weather conditions (Menu > Fire > Fire Danger), monitor daily trends, and review forecasted fire weather indices for your area.
When fire weather is quiet, updates may be paused until activity increases again.
Fuels and Fire Behavior Products
(785) 532-3321
(785) 291-3333
Kansas Forest Service DFMOs are your primary contacts for local wildfire response coordination. Kansas Forest Service provides a wide range of support to fire departments during wildfire incidents, including on-the-ground resources, aviation assets, and incident management expertise. Submit the following form within 24 hours for any fully contained/extinguished wildfire over 100 acres in timber, or 300 acres in grass. If the incident is ongoing, or other than a wildfire, use a standard 209 form.
Weekly Operations Call
Sign up for our weekly operations call during high fire danger periods. The intent of these meetings is to provide a wildfire environment briefing to Kansas firefighters and emergency managers. The briefing will include a fire weather and fuels update, Kansas operations, aviation, and support resource availability, safety message, and public information update. The briefing will end with a question and answer period.