A legislative audit says Kansas’ wildfire suppression system is underfunded and understaffed and operates with a fragmented leadership.

Barton County Emergency Risk Manager Amy Miller read through the audit and felt that most of the audit’s issues came from the State of Kansas’ response to emergencies with the Kansas Department of Emergency Management, Office of the State Fire Marshal, and the Kansas Forest Service. Auditors recommended the legislature choose one agency to lead the state’s wildfire response and appropriate the money to ensure enough resources are deployed to fight fires.

Miller says the agencies have been heavily tested over the past few years with wildfires.

Amy Miller Audio

Wildfires in 2016 and 2017 burned more than 800,000 acres in Kansas, causing $80 million in damage, and killing one person.

The audit stated the state does not have adequate resources to meet the demand for services, but Miller thought Barton County is in better shape than many other counties to fight wildfires.

Amy Miller Audio

Miller would like to see more public education distributed to keep residents informed and safe in case of a severe wildfire. She reminds property owners in rural areas to avoid planting or having red cedar trees, referring to the vegetation as “fire bombs.”