The grasslands in central Kansas were already dry on December 15 when a record-breaking windstorm swept across the state taking down power lines and driving the fires that sparked across multiple counties in the state.
The speed of the wildfires made them difficult to get ahead of for firefighters, wildlife, and livestock.
Recovery from these fires is going to extend well past the current news cycle. Reporter David Condos expresses how some ranchers and farmers have lost homes, cattle and equipment leaving a number of them with nothing but their burnt land.
"I've been through it a lot over the years," says Rich Koester, a rancher from Russell County, citing droughts and blizzards that have affected his pasture in the past. "Gotta go with the flow and do the best job you can, and that's all you can do."
Koester says he is unsure what the recovery may look like for him heading into the spring. He says some federal service agencies are making resources available to help, but a key step is finding those programs in the first place.
- David Condos, reporter, Kansas News Service and High Plains Public Radio
- Rich Koester, rancher, Russell County
If you're looking to help those affected by the wildfires, the Kansas Department of Agriculture has set up a recovery resources hub that includes links for donating.
