Caution Urged With Fireworks Amid Drought
Associated Press - Wed 10:43 AM 07/04/2012
36 counties are in drought emergency, 55 counties are in drought warning status and 14 are in watch status
Independence Day in Kansas promises to be scorching hot, dry and windy, prompting officials to post burn bans across about half the state.
They're also asking residents to take extra care with those celebratory bottle rockets and barbecues. Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Dale Rodman issued a statement Tuesday urging caution because "it only takes a small spark to ignite a large fire."
Gov. Sam Brownback said Tuesday that 36 counties are in drought emergency, 55 counties are in drought warning status and 14 are in watch status.
The National Weather Service says the prolonged heat wave will linger, with triple-digit temperatures and no chance of rain expected in Kansas for the rest of the week. Temperatures are forecast to be in the upper 90s and lower 100s.
Comments must stay on topic and be respectful. Comments that are personal attacks, make unfounded accusations, or are for the purpose of "trolling" or inciting others will be removed. Offending users will have their profile suspended.
Post a comment Log in or Register to comment
Iamgonnagetu
Wednesday 4 July 2012 13:40 Report this comment
Nobody should pay attention toy this. Joe Koch says we do not need a ban and by God he knows everything that needs to be known. His superiors evidently agree since they have ignored doing anything. Now its the fourth and time to go wild.
Grif82
Wednesday 4 July 2012 14:34 Report this comment
I received a weather report on my phone that said that a rock thrown from a lawnmower had started a fire, so its unfortunate that Saline county officials are oblivious to the weather conditions.
getumgranny
Wednesday 4 July 2012 15:41 Report this comment
I am going to continue to hope and pray there is no big problems!! Since they are going ahead and allowing the fireworks, I hope everyone uses caution and follows the law/rules in place, Please, be considerate of your neighbors, stop the fireworks at 11pm, people do have to get up in the morning to go to work, some simply require more sleep than only an hour or two. And, pick up your trash when you are done, make sure EVERYTHING is extinguished, soaking in a bucket of water would be great!! Do not go to bed without checking to be sure everything is ok, that could ruin your 4th of July real quick!! Happy 4th everyone and please be safe!!
BONEMAN
Wednesday 4 July 2012 17:14 Report this comment
Well as of last night I realized how good our SPD are at there job. There was some mexicans on indian rock lighting a foutain and caught the bushes on fire.. The mexicans got it out thanks to some other gal that happened to be there at the time with liquids in her vehicle.. As for the SPD they were called out and it was one female officer came looked around and just left like oh well.. Did not look around to hard..
Iamgonnagetu
Wednesday 4 July 2012 18:06 Report this comment
Well can you blame her. What chance would she stand with a bunch of drunk Mexicans. Law enforcement always sends a back up for female officers evidently not in Salina.
Iamgonnagetu
Wednesday 4 July 2012 18:09 Report this comment
Has anyone heard how many citations have been issued by police and sheriff? Nobody seems to be addressing the issue about all the illegal fireworks brought in from other states.
BONEMAN
Wednesday 4 July 2012 18:32 Report this comment
These mexicans were not drunk just little teenage mexicans.. The cop showed up like 20 minutes after they were called. Her backup more likely to busy sitting at mcdonalds eating cheese burgers and fries sucking down there frappes...
getumgranny
Wednesday 4 July 2012 21:47 Report this comment
Fires @ Magnolia & Simpson/Fire on Smolan Rd/Fire on Moon drive/Fire on Kiowa/another one I can't remember where!! That's just in the last 30-45mins!! Now lets go down the list of firework calls where people are shooting them off in the streets and at cars!!!! College/9th/Franklin and several others. I sure hope there's no REAL crimes tonight because our police/sheriff dept's all tied up on crap with idiotic people and their damn fireworks!!! God help us all, I hope we have a town left when tonight is over!!
Iamgonnagetu
Wednesday 4 July 2012 21:49 Report this comment
Well 7:30 this morning there was a sheriff deputy sitting at the fire station on Simpson supposedly doing radar. What a waste of taxpayer money that early on a holiday. That soon to be ex-sheriff has sure screwed up the department.
Iamgonnagetu
Wednesday 4 July 2012 21:53 Report this comment
Where the hell is Joe Koch? He should be fired first thing in the morning.
getumgranny
Wednesday 4 July 2012 21:56 Report this comment
A call on the scanner some kids are shooting fireworks and they are landing on someones house!! Well, I hope the revenue being generated was worth all the time and money spent by fire/emt/police and sheriff!! I hope they re-think the firework ordinance, obviously people are not smart enough to shoot them off appropriately!!!
getumgranny
Wednesday 4 July 2012 21:58 Report this comment
K140 by Cloud another fire, house and business near by!!
getumgranny
Wednesday 4 July 2012 22:00 Report this comment
Large fire on East Humbarger road!! Someone better be held accountable 1st thing in the morning for not getting the ban in place!! I hope this is priority!!
getumgranny
Wednesday 4 July 2012 22:06 Report this comment
Robin road hot embers landing on a house--- Ohio and Schippel by camp webster, field on fire!!
getumgranny
Wednesday 4 July 2012 22:12 Report this comment
It appears some of us were RIGHT!!! WEATHER NOT GOOD FOR FIREWORKS!!! Fire on Joni lane!! Belmont and robin road someone shooting fireworks at cars, they are running low on water on the trucks!! What a cluster fu@#!!! House on fire on mellinger drive!!! I feel so sorry for the public service people right now!! GOOD JOB JOE KOCH, HUGE ATTA BOY COMIN YOUR WAY!! I HOPE IN THE FORM OF A PINK SLIP!!
getumgranny
Wednesday 4 July 2012 22:21 Report this comment
ANOTHER fire on Kiowa, someone caught a car on fire!! Pulling out their reserve truck, Eastbourough and country club rd, grass fire. Not sure but it sounds like we are calling in reinforcements!!
getumgranny
Wednesday 4 July 2012 22:24 Report this comment
North halstead road grass fire!!
getumgranny
Wednesday 4 July 2012 22:27 Report this comment
God, please give these fire workers the strength to get through tonight, thank god there's only 35mins left, like everyone is going to stop at 11pm!!
getumgranny
Wednesday 4 July 2012 22:31 Report this comment
This will end my fire reporting for the night!! Although the calls keep rolling in, wonder how many will make it into the news tomorrow.
MyPostinID
Wednesday 4 July 2012 22:33 Report this comment
The most beautiful sight I have ever seen was when my husband and I were driving back to Salina on I-35, the fire works from the north end of Salina to the far south end, it was just beautiful! To think of all the fire calls happening, I can say that the percentage of the people are being careful, saddly, there are people who are abusing this and will ruin it for others.
MyPostinID
Wednesday 4 July 2012 22:36 Report this comment
To the person who is upset about the deputy sitting at the fire station on Simpson Rd. Let me advise you that it is common when there is no crimes taking place, for a deputy to sit in many different places in Saline County to run radar. Simpson fire station is one of the more common places. I dont know why you are upset, he is saving thousands of dollars running his radar and not driving around. Now, why dont you let the deptuties do their job, it is hard enough for them with people who hate them just because. If you think you can do a better job, then apply, or better, take a Citizens Academy class and find out what it is about.
BONEMAN
Wednesday 4 July 2012 23:00 Report this comment
getumgranny you really sta
GETALIFE674
Wednesday 4 July 2012 23:03 Report this comment
Lady are you kidding me? There is not a sheriff presence in most of the county because these dummies are sitting in one place talking on their cell phones or just plain sleeping. If you noticed they have tinted all their windows above what the law allows. They figure this way the average citizen cannot see what they are doing. He is not saving us anything because while he is sitting there crime is being committed elsewhere because there is no presence. Don't give people on here the if you think you can do better BS your just riding a dead horse on that comment. If I think things can be done better I will vote to get the current sheriff out of office.
BONEMAN
Wednesday 4 July 2012 23:03 Report this comment
getumgranny you really have been staying on them emergency calls.. I think we take that scanner away from you and send you to bed. I believe nursing home curfew is 10:00.. You are up way past your bedtime..
GETALIFE674
Wednesday 4 July 2012 23:07 Report this comment
MypostinID have you been drinking? Have you not read the postings on here of all the fires in and around Salina? They need to ban fireworks entirely in the county and the city. Then they need to pass some laws that will severely deal with anyone caught with them.
passing_by
Wednesday 4 July 2012 23:14 Report this comment
MyPostinID, I suppose it is only beautiful if it is not your property that is burning... The scanner is almost constant with fires set by fireworks tonight.
BONEMAN
Wednesday 4 July 2012 23:39 Report this comment
Other then all the fires and accidents. It was a beautiful skyfire tonight.. The fire department worked very hard since yesturday watering down the golf course 24/7.. I think now we know why fireworks was once banned in salina and it will happen again just watch..
BONEMAN
Wednesday 4 July 2012 23:59 Report this comment
ok ok tbone settle down.. I just heard on the scanner of your temper tantrum you were throwing things in the yard and being wreckless when getumgranny took your fireworks away.. Getumgranny how could you... I thought I told you to go to bed... Im gonna have to sit down with the staff there at the home and tell them to tie you down in bed..
MyPostinID
Thursday 5 July 2012 00:34 Report this comment
First, I have neighbors who shoot fireworks regardless if they are legal or not, they throw weekend parties, get drunk, fight, and at this time 12:32 am they are still shooting off fireworks, I suppose it will be like yesterday, hearing them at 3 am. These people dont care what month it is, they are shooting off fire works every month of the year, our roofs are littered with their fire work remains, they have set one neighbors flag on fire. Yes, I know what abuse is from idiots.
BONEMAN
Thursday 5 July 2012 00:37 Report this comment
I can tell you all now.. Tomorrow morning some people will be loosing there jobs..
MyPostinID
Thursday 5 July 2012 00:39 Report this comment
To those who are so against the sheriff dept. try putting your complaint into a employment form, work the job, see what it takes, learn first hand what it is all about. There is no money to put a lot of deputies on the road. Learn what it is like to have to write a report on every call you are sent on, or on every ticket you write. These men and women are doing 12 hour shifts, doing work most people are not qualified for, and yet, most people can only sit behind a computer screen and complain about how they do their jobs?? Best part of it, you hide behind screen names so no one knows who you really are... what a crock.
GETALIFE674
Thursday 5 July 2012 00:50 Report this comment
Evidently you are part of the sheriff's department. Maybe if we were not paying him 100k to sit on his butt because he is so old other things could be done. Further utilizing the staff he has more efficiently would make a big difference. Like I said I will put my complaint in at the ballot box and oust this guy and anyone else down there not doing their job. I hope a new sheriff would clean house completely and start fresh.
GETALIFE674
Thursday 5 July 2012 00:51 Report this comment
Another thing since you are pro law enforcement why don't you file complaints on your neighbors if in fact they are as bad as you say. A stop could be put on their activities.
WhoCares
Thursday 5 July 2012 08:54 Report this comment
hey getumgranny.... SHUT THE HELL UP WITH YOUR NO SENSELESS RAMBLING ON.... b#?%* b#?%* b#?%*.... IS THAT ALL YOU OLD BAGS CAN DO?
WhoCares
Thursday 5 July 2012 08:58 Report this comment
mypostinid.... You speak from experience....wussie.... "Best part of it, you hide behind screen names so no one knows who you really are... what a crock."
KSSimNut
Thursday 5 July 2012 09:50 Report this comment
Bart Allen aka "Iamgonnagetu" knock your crap off. I am sick of your law enforcement, cop hating, and bashing post of the sheriff's office. You are seeking the job of sheriff but continue to degrade everyone that works for the agency. All you are doing is tainting any respect for the agency on the whim chance you actually get elected to the position you wingnut. Oh and your interview classic... you don't have a clue what position you are trying to get into.
KSSimNut
Thursday 5 July 2012 09:58 Report this comment
GETALIFE674 let the new sheriff try and clean house. As a tax payer I do not want to pay for training a bunch of new officers. Further the academy is how long now? Oh and then there is the slight issue of the hiring freeze. Don't compromise my safety for the stupidity of a few. Look the department and terminate the problem employees. #2 stop bashing about law enforcement on cell phones. The SO only has one patrol unit with tinted windows (the K9 rig) otherwise everything is factory tint. And the deputies are probably on the cell phone answering stupid questions or trying to avoid people in scanner land having more stupid crap to post about on KSAL.
tsquared1975
Thursday 5 July 2012 11:10 Report this comment
Well first of all, to getumgranny, fireworks can be shot until midnight NOT 11:00. Secondly, there is a story up from the Salina Journal regarding all the fire calls... http://www.salina.com/news/story/fireworksfire7-5-12 This is a preview story. The full story is set to be published tomorrow!! Just for the record, articles on both this site as well as Salina.com show that fireworks can be legally discharged until midnight and that goes for today, the 5th, as well!! Be safe everyone!!
THEENFORCER
Thursday 5 July 2012 11:15 Report this comment
kssimnut why don't you kiss my butt. Your wonderful sheriff was on here spouting how they were going to hand out summons ect. Most of the fires were close in and they weren't prevented and I bet probably no one was issued a summons. And if you believe what other BS your putting out I got some great land in Florida I would be glad to sell you.
THEENFORCER
Thursday 5 July 2012 11:20 Report this comment
The city allows to 11pm for your info and the county to 12am. And in both places they were abused past those hours. You do not need fireworks to celebrate july 4th period. Fireworks are put on in many cities by professional people who know what they are doing. The idiot people who are not responsible to use them but they get their hands on them and cause problems. Even those that take care run into trouble now and then. This year proved that there needs to be a complete ban on fireworks both in the city and county.
tsquared1975
Thursday 5 July 2012 11:36 Report this comment
Ok so your right... http://www.salina.com/news/story/you-can-shoot--em-7-3-12 Like thats going to stop anyone!!!
Iamgonnagetu
Thursday 5 July 2012 13:28 Report this comment
Kissmynut you got to be one of the most uneducated people on here. I am not Mr Allen and you especially ought to thank God that I am not. I do agree with him that the sheriff's department needs a total house cleaning. This sheriff and his so called investigators are a joke. Of all the murders in the county they cannot solve any of them that they have to investigate not knowing who was involved. This department has suffered long enought with a sheriff that should have retired years ago.