Throughout the days of December 15 – 17, the Ellis County Fire Department spent approximately 1,711 working hours between 77 firefighters on scene, extinguishing the wildfires in Ellis County.
During those days approximately 55,424 acres of grasslands burned, and unfortunately, 10 homes, 17 other structures, and a business burned down which has impacted many families and their livelihoods.
During those days, so many people showed their support not just to those who had lost everything, but also to the firefighters of the Ellis County Fire Department.
We have tried to create a list to thank everyone who helped in so many ways. Some have asked to not be mentioned but thank you as well as you know who you are.
Our deepest thank you for your support to the Ellis County Fire Department to the following:
• Emergency dispatchers who did the best they could between radio traffic and phone calls
• The Russell, Rooks, Ness, Osborne, and Phillips County fire departments for mutual aid
• Sheriff’s deputies assisting in evacuations
• All the employers who let the firefighters leave work to assist in the firefighting efforts
• American Red Cross
• Dillons
• Midwest Energy
• Western Cooperative
• Ellis County Public Works (water and fuel)
• Midland Marking – water trucks
• Jimmy John’s
• McDonalds
• All those who dropped off drinking water throughout the fires
• Monti and Kylee Honas
• FHSU
• CG Oil, Inc.
• Kansas Highway Patrol for traffic control, and providing updates from the air
• Kansas Forestry Service for personnel and coordinating water drops from planes
• Sunflower Bank in Victoria for lasagna
• Gari Herdt for breakfast
• Victoria High students and staff for sack lunches
• Fork That Bakery for sandwiches and snacks
• Peggy Wohler for sandwiches
• Jason Kippes for water
• Kori Braun for helping to organize the food deliveries
• Total for water, ice, and Gatorade
• The Library for food and drinks
• Alejandro Robles for food and water
• Brian Staff for the use of a tractor
• Jayme Zimmerman for the use of a tractor
• All the farmers bringing equipment to cut in fire lines
• To everyone else we may have missed or asked not to be listed
Darin Myers CPM, EFO, MPA
Fire Chief and County Administrator
Ellis County, Kansas