Kansas farmers and land owners are beginning to burn their grasslands in preparation for spring and summer.

Garry Berges, Geary County Rural Fire Chief, explained that burning will take place in the next 45 days or so,” a lot of the farmers will be out burning a lot of their water ways and their agricultural ground to get the dead grass out so they can get the new grass started for the cattle.”

Berges explained that burning will not be permitted if winds are at or above 15 miles per hour.

“They have to call our office prior to burning and receive a burn permit and also permission to start that burn. Those are the main ones, and also they need to be out there and in control of it and watch it until the fire is out, they can’t just leave,” Berges said.

Fire crews will be ready to respond if needed. Berges did say that his crews responded to around thirty grass fires last year.

Smoke could be seen to the north of Junction City Monday afternoon and Berges confirmed that it was a controlled burn at Fort Riley.