By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
More than 1,000 acres burned in a wildfire in Edwards County near Kinsley on Thursday.
The fire was near the R9 Ranch, which is owned by the cities of Hays and Russell.
The Hays Post has attempted to reach the Edwards County Emergency Manager and Edwards County Sheriff for further information on the fire, but phone calls were not returned as of this post.
The city of Hays released the following statement today.
On Wednesday, April 15, a prescribed burn was conducted on city-owned property in Edwards County.
Preparation and execution of the burn followed all proper protocols, and the burn was approved by the local fire chief.
The prescribed burn was conducted as planned without issue.
Staff monitored the area throughout the day Wednesday and Thursday to ensure any hot spots were addressed.
Sometime in the late afternoon Thursday a fire was detected in the Arkansas River bottom area adjacent to the property.
The cause of ignition for that fire has not been determined, and an investigation is underway.
There will be no further comment on the matter until the investigation has been completed.
Several people claiming to be from Edwards County have contacted the Hays Post and expressed frustration at the controlled burn.
Most of the area is under drought conditions and has experienced repeated red flag warnings in recent weeks due to high winds and low humidity.