Kansas City metro responds to damaging high winds, severe weather
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — High winds on Friday caused downed trees and power lines and other damage across the Kansas City Metro.
The Shawnee Fire Department responded to reports of shattered glass caused by strong winds at a bank off Shawnee Mission Parkway. No injuries were reported.
Karen Smith, who lives in Kansas City, Kansas, experienced the wind storm while driving to Paoli.
'My arms hurt from holding her car on the road. That's how hard the wind was blowing,' Smith said.
'As we were going down 169, we were in her little Ford, and it almost blew off the road at one point; it was blowing so hard. When we got down there, it had blown over a couple of the shelters for the horses and taken down a fence there.'
FOX4 Forecast: Colder and still windy today
Douglas County Emergency Management said firefighters encountered near hurricane-force wind gusts while responding to a massive grass fire east of Stull.
An evacuation notice for the area was in place for about two hours Friday evening.
The fire was under control Saturday morning. Douglas County EM said no injuries were reported.
'These conditions and the large fires created challenges for firefighters and first responders, but the teamwork and coordination helped us protect lives and property amid the threat of these fires,' said John Mathis, interim fire chief for Douglas County Consolidated Fire District No. 1.
Multiple agencies, including the Olathe Fire Department, responded to Douglas County to assist.
Olathe FD also sent crews to assist other surrounding counties.
'We sent one of our brush trucks down to Crawford County. They remained down there, and we may remain down there for another 24-plus hours assisting in Crawford County. Then this morning, we sent one of our engines down with four personnel, plus a Battalion Chief to the Yates Center area. So they're down there assisting for the next 24 hours,' said Olathe FD Battalion Chief Sean Brooks.
The Olathe Fire Department opened its emergency operations center Friday in anticipation of the fire and wind risks.
'We have our wildland team that is prepared, and they are some of the predominant individuals that staffed our brush units and other resources that went out. In addition, yesterday, we also stood up our brush engine here within the city, which responded to various incidents within our jurisdiction. Preparation for that starts and continues year-round for our wildland personnel, and they are ready to go at any point in time,' Brooks explained.
Fire officials encourage people to use caution over the next couple of days.
'We still have an enhanced risk, not where we were yesterday, but we are going to be into an enhanced risk, not only a little bit today but probably more tomorrow (Sunday) for a high fire danger. Please be as safe as you possibly can, and we'll be ready to help you out if need be,' Brooks said.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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