Kansas governor declares state of disaster amid fire

Meteorologists say high winds, aided by a cold front moving across Missouri, have blown smoke here from giant wildfires continuing to burn in Kansas and Oklahoma.

The wildfire, which started Tuesday in northern Oklahoma, moved into Kansas and burned tens of thousands acres, mostly in Comanche and Barber counties.

More than 200 firefighters were battling a fire line that stretched 30 to 40 miles long in Barber County on Thursday morning, said Darcy Golliher, spokeswoman for the state incident management team that has set up operations in Medicine Lodge.

No fatalities or serious injuries have been reported.

No evacuations were reported in Oklahoma, but officials from the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management said eight ranches in Kansas were evacuated as the fire spread toward them.

Lehman said the blaze reignited when winds blew embers onto unburnt land.

She said some of the smoke reported came from a somewhat local grass fire near Bar-Dew Lake but the majority was from Kansas. Government officials say the worst of it is over, with fire crews from Wichita heading home just after 7 in the morning.

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Preliminary estimates from the Oklahoma Forestry Services say about 220 square miles have burned in Oklahoma and 405 square miles in Kansas.

The Woods County fire wasn't the only one on Wednesday in Oklahoma.

Another grass fire near Burrton which began before 5 p.m. Wednesday spread, forcing the Harvey County Sheriff's Office to evacuate the area of Burmac Rd. and 12th and 14th streets. Wind also tossed whole trees and large sections of trees into city streets here and interrupted electrical service to some parts of the city.

Barber County rancher Brian Alexander said almost all of his family's ranch is burned.

The situation will be similar Wednesday, although fire danger in the immediate Wichita Falls area may be greater.

In Texas, where strong winds and low humidity created ideal fire conditions, some people were evacuated Wednesday from their homes in Skellytown, about 45 miles northeast of Amarillo, but were allowed to return after a few hours, said Linda Moon, Texas A&M; Forest Service spokesman.

He says dozens of fire trucks were deployed to the region to help contain the fire, and that Red Cross volunteers have mobilized in the event of more evacuations.