(WICHITA, Kan.) — Fire crews battled several grass fires around central and western Kansas Wednesday afternoon.
An updated from the Adjutant General's office at 8:30 says the fires have been extinguished or contained.
Fire crews remain on the scene of several fires, including one that burned in Phillips County, looking for flares ups. They'll likely remain on duty through the evening.
The State Emergency Operations Center in Topeka was activated just before five o'clock Wednesday afternoon. It was deactivated just before nine.
Governor Sam Brownback issued a declaration of emergency for Barton, Ellis, Ellsworth, Lincoln, Mitchell, Osborne, Phillips, Rooks and Russell counties.
There are no reports of any injuries with the grass fires. Some vacant and abandoned farm buildings were destroyed.
Several counties have put burn bans in place, including Anderson, Barton, Cheyenne, Decatur, Franklin, Gove, Graham, Logan, Mitchell, Morton, Ottawa, Pawnee, Phillips, Rawlins, Rooks, Sherman, Thomas and Trego. The city of Olathe has also issued a burn ban.
