By TONY GURERRERO
Hays Post
Ellis County Fire Chief Darin Myers recalled leading firefighters during a wildfire that ultimately burned about 163,000 acres across northwestern Kansas.
"It was a long three days and very consuming for our resources throughout all of Ellis County. ... We were out there almost 12 to 15 hours for the most part every day," Myers said.
Dec. 15, 2021, was the start of the Four County Fire that destroyed dozens of homes and claimed two lives, including one in Ellis County, Myers said. The windstorm and wildfires caused more than $2.3 million in damage.
Myers said 27 structures in Ellis County, including homes, barns and sheds, were damaged or destroyed. The fire left widespread destruction across Russell, Rooks and Osborne counties as well.
Myers said more than 40,000 acres burned in Ellis County alone.
"It was very devastating. A lot of memories, one of those career-type events that you hope never happens again," Myers said.
Ellis County faced dozens of fires, with three major blazes driving the response. One burned about 100 hay bales northeast of Hays, another started south of Riga and moved toward the city of Ellis, and a third began near the Cedar Bluff feedlot in Trego County before moving toward the Grants Villa area.
Fires near Hays destroyed at least eight homes. Myers said that loss, along with the lives taken, was emotionally difficult for him to process in the immediate aftermath.
"People losing their homes was tough. Knowing that we couldn't do anything to help them was tough. One individual who was lost until he was found, it weighed heavily on me a lot. ... When his family and kids came in, that was tough," he said.
Fire crews began evacuating the western edge of the city of Ellis as the blaze advanced to within about a mile of the town. Despite 100 mph winds, zero visibility and flames reaching up to 50 feet, shifting weather conditions later allowed responders to gain the upper hand that day.
Cattle losses were widespread across affected counties, with some ranchers losing most of their herds. As fire chief, Myers focused on strategic coordination and ensuring exhausted crews were cared for.
The county fire department worked alongside other local agencies, with resources stretched thin. Wildland Task Force, the National Guard and state emergency management assisted in the following days, Myers said.
The county fire department worked alongside other local agencies in addition to the Wildland Task Force, the National Guard and state emergency management, Myers said.
Myers said physical reminders of the Four County Fire remain four years later, including homes in the area that were never rebuilt.
"It was a lot of work, but we have a great group of firefighters, no matter if it's in Hays, Ellis, Victoria, Schoenchen, Catherine and all over the place," he said. "EMS and law enforcement; they're all great. Our community should be proud of them."
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