Kansas firefighters battling wildfires in Oregon

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Kansas firefighters are on their way to Oregon to help battle wildfires.

A crew of 10 firefighters from the Kansas Forest Service out of Wichita, Olathe, Ottawa, and Edwardsville are now on the way. Hutchinson Fire Department also sent crews, and more are preparing to go.

“We have another crew that is sitting in wait right now that, if they get to the end of their 14 days, those guys will start making plans for our second crew to meet them out there and just do a crew swap,” Justin Holzrichter, Hutchinson battalion chief, said.

Holzrichter said every year, the Kansas Forest Service has a list of firefighters available to go wherever is needed.

“I think our truck has been to Texas, Idaho, California many times,” Holzrichter said. “Now Oregon, Colorado, so we’re able to go anywhere wherever they’re needed.”

Despite some of the firefighters heading out of state, Holzrichter said the other crew members are signing up for overtime and extra shifts to ensure the citizens of Hutchinson are taken care of as well.

The Durkee Fire, caused by lightning, has burned more than 200,000 acres along the Oregon-Idaho state line. According to InciWeb, the fire is 20% contained.

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