By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
The cause of the Edwards County fire that burned about 1,500 acres on April 16 remains undetermined, according to the Kansas State Fire Marshal.
The fire occurred near R9 Ranch, owned by the cities of Hays and Russell.
Following the fire, the city of Hays said a prescribed burn was conducted on April 15 on city-owned property in Edwards County and followed all proper protocols, including approval from the local fire chief. The city said staff monitored the area throughout the burn and again on April 16 to address any hot spots
A fire was later detected in the Arkansas River bottom adjacent to the property where the controlled burn was, the city said.
The Kansas State Fire Marshal investigated the incident. Lance Feyh, public information manager, said about 400 acres were burned in the prescribed burn prior to the wildfire, which went on to burn more than 1,000 acres.
Feyh said the fire began around 4 p.m. and was first reported to local authorities. Damage was limited to grassland, fences and fence posts. No injuries or structural damage were reported.
Feyh said the investigation is largely complete but will remain open if new evidence is found.
Hays Post contacted the city of Hays for additional comment on the investigation but received no further response. Hays Post also attempted to contact the Edwards County emergency manager, but calls were not returned as of this post.
A Red Flag Warning was in effect for much of western Kansas, including, Edwards County, from noon to 9 p.m. on April 16, according to the National Weather Service in Dodge City. This was due to strong winds and low humidity that created critical fire conditions.