Manhattan Fire Department

NEWS RELEASE: No Animals Injured in Early Morning Fire at K-State Dairy Unit

(Riley County, KS – June 17, 2026) Riley County Fire District #1 and the Manhattan Fire Department responded to reports of a structure fire near the Kansas State University Dairy Unit early this morning.

Emergency crews were dispatched at 4:05 a.m. after a passerby reported the fire to 911. As firefighters approached the scene, they observed heavy flames coming from several storage buildings north of the Kansas State University campus.

A total of 42 units responded, including volunteer firefighters and personnel from Riley County Fire District #1, Manhattan Fire Department, Kansas State University Police Department, and Riley County EMS.

No people or animals were injured in the fire.

Several storage buildings and contents were destroyed. A damage estimate is not yet available.

The Kansas Fire Marshal Marshal and Kansas State University Fire Marshal are on scene investigating the cause of the fire.

At the time of this release, grain and feed storage bins continue to smolder. The Manhattan Fire Department has cleared the scene, while Riley County Fire District #1 personnel and volunteers are expected to remain for several hours to fully extinguish the fire and conduct mop-up operations. K-State staff are assisting with debris removal using heavy equipment.

“We are concerned about the high winds today and blowing embers to other parts of the surrounding K-State North Farm,” Riley County Emergency Services Director and Fire Chief Russel Stukey said. “We’ll stay on scene as long as needed to help ensure that doesn’t happen.”

“The university appreciates the prompt and continued response by all emergency services involved,” said Michelle Geering, Kansas State University spokesperson.

Over the past several weeks, our recruit class has spent countless hours working on their skills through hands-on training. From live fire evolutions and forcible entry to vehicle extrication, active violence response, search and rescue, and more. Their hard work continues to be on display as they work towards becoming Manhattan firefighters.

Safe Kids of Riley County offers free child safety seat checks every Tuesday from 11am-1pm at Manhattan Fire Department Headquarters. Make sure your child’s car seat is installed correctly and providing the best protection possible. Available for parents, caregivers, and childcare providers.

Very proud of our people and their service to our community.

TRAINING EXERCISES TODAY

Manhattan Fire Department will be training alongside , Riley County EMS, Riley County Fire District #1, and Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 June 3 - 5. You will see emergency responders and vehicles around Bergman Elementary School all three days. The school will be closed during training.

Safety doesn't happen by accident; it's built by people.
We're highlighting the professionals behind the scenes who keep our buildings and our community safe every day.
From inspectors to firefighters, their work matters more than you see.

Prepared communities start with prepared homes. Small steps today like testing smoke alarms, planning escape routes, and knowing emergency contacts can make a big difference tomorrow.

Fire is fast, but home fire sprinklers are faster. They respond quickly to control a fire, allowing residents time escape. If you are considering building a new home ask for fire sprinklers.

We are grateful for our wildfire response partners Kansas Forest Service, Riley County Fire District #1, Blue Township Fire Department, Pottawatomie County Consolidated Fire District, and Fort Riley Fire & Emergency Services!

The strongest wildfire response happens long before a fire starts.

🤝 Prepare: Know the resources available in your community:
Kansas Forest Service – Wildland fire program, training, equipment, aviation support, incident management, prevention education, grants
National Weather Service – Fire weather forecasts and Red Flag Warnings
K-State Mesonet – Real-time weather data
Kansas Division of Emergency Management, Office of the State Fire Marshal, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Kansas Department of Transportation – Emergency management, coordination, and recovery
Get familiar with these agencies on a good day—before you need them on your worst day.

📚️ Prevent: Coordinated planning, training, and education reduce wildfire risk statewide.
Prevention programs, fuel mitigation projects, and public outreach work best when agencies, communities, and landowners partner together.

🛩️ Respond: When wildfire threatens, local, state, and federal agencies work as one team to:
Provide aviation and ground resources
Support incident management
Assist communities during response and recovery

Strong partnerships mean faster response, better communication, and safer outcomes.

Learn more: https://buff.ly/OzIouCi

Kansas Division of Emergency Management I Kansas State Fire Fighters Association I Kansas State Fire Marshal Office

We are hiring! EMT is not required to apply. Applications close February 20th.

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