Wildfire — Woodson, Kansas

2025-03-14 · Woodson, Kansas

Event narrative

A fire started at a county burn site which spread due to strong winds and dry conditions. This fire destroyed the nursing home as well as the attached health and rehab center in Yates Center which is on the southwest side of town. Firefighters were able to contain the fire from preventing it further impacting the main parts of town. All residents and staff members were safely evacuated prior to the fire reaching the facility.

Wider weather episode

A strong, dynamic system dug into the southern and central plains, and a swath of warm and extreme dry air punched into portions of Oklahoma along with south-central and southeast Kansas. This very dry air was accompanied by very strong southwesterly winds with gusts between 58 and 77 mph. These strong winds caused damage across a large portion of southern and eastern Kansas. Additionally, several large wildfires occurred as a result of dry and very windy conditions, one of which burned down a retirement home in Yates Center.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1248340. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.