Smoky skies over Lawrence are due to a controlled burn in Topeka

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A haze of smoke collected in Lawrence skies Thursday afternoon due to a controlled burn more than 30 miles away at Forbes Field in Topeka, according to Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical. 

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Concerned about the smoke-filled skies absent any sirens, more than 30 people called to report the smoke, according to LDCFM dispatch. 

Several hundred acres were burned at the Topeka Regional Airport on South Topeka Boulevard. Airports tend to burn surrounding grass to impede interactions between wildlife and aircraft. 

Shawnee County was in charge of the burn. 

Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday approved an emergency five-day burn ban for the county.

“Firefighters need time to recover & repair equipment following recent grassfires,” according to a tweet from Douglas County Emergency Management. “Dangerous fire weather & dry conditions are expected.”

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Kaw Valley Almanac for Dec. 2-8, 2024

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The prickly pear cactus reduces its water content, dehydrating to get through the cold and survive even subzero temperatures. Mosses “bloom” in wintertime, using limited moisture and can use the sunlight even through the snow.

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