Between storms and fires started by storms, Kansas has been quite busy and Mitchell County started out on Friday, May 15, with the North Central Task Force #1 being deployed to assist local firefighters to fight wildfires burning in Clark, Ford, Harper, Meade and Morton counties along with other task forces from Dickinson County and Kingman County. Four woodland task forces from Reno, Sedgwick, Scott and Hamilton counties with KDOT water tender support and Kansas Forest Service (KFS) fire management and firefighter assistance from Morton County were also assisting. Fire District #1 took one heavy brush truck and one tanker with three fire fighters to help with these fires. Four task forces were deployed from Shawnee, Riley, Jefferson and Mitchell counties. Wildland Fire Task Forces deploy to help in these situations. Active wildfires in Clark County, Kansas have burned around 20,000 acres, along with 115,000 acres across southwest Kansas.
In Mitchell County, high winds, thunder and lightning were present in some areas and power was out for over eight hours in areas with Prairie Land Electric power service.
Cloud County was hit hard on May 15 with trees fallen, power outages and damage. Mankato was also hit hard with high winds, downed trees and damage.
