Stepping outside on Monday morning, McPherson Residents were greeted with an overcast day. Nothing unusual for the beginning of March, except for the forecast being bright and sunny. What citizens were seeing was actually smoke from out-of-control fires from nearby counties.

  There are a total of four fires in Kansas- one fire started north of Ashland and spread rapidly from there due to dry grasses and a strong wind shield, while another came up from Oklahoma. Two more fires around mid-Kansas are also pushing citizens to evacuate. There are also fires happening in Texas, Oklahoma, and Colorado, making this a multi-state problem.

  McPherson, Galva, Marquette, and various other nearby fire stations have been battling the flames since the fires first began.

 “I never saw the fire,” said senior Thorin Reichert, “But I did see all the smoke around my dad’s farm. I keep hearing about people’s families having to leave just in case the fire reaches their homes”

  Towns and houses near the actual blaze have mostly been evacuated for resident’s safety. Barns and houses on the outskirts of Ashland have been burned down. Farmers have reported devastating losses of cattle, with rough estimates going into the hundreds.

  A semi truck driver has been killed from smoke inhalation, and three adults and three children were injured from the resulting accident.

  Harvey County, which has been assisting with the nearby fires, has taken steps to avoid worsening the inferno by putting up a burn ban. The burn ban restricts the burning of trash, the burning of fields, and other blazes such as open fires and campfires. Citizens are also being advised to be conscious of disposing their cigarettes, cigars, and other smoking forms. The ban will be final until March 13th, where its continued validity will be assessed.

  Until the fires have been controlled and extinguished, all Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Colorado citizens should be especially wary and cautious.