(L-R) Hiawatha volunteer firefighters John Merchant, Jr., Nick Siebenmorgen and Ryan Shockley provide assistance in battling wildfires in southwest Kansas

(KNZA)--Three Hiawatha volunteer firefighters answered the call for mutual aid to battle wildfires raging in southwest Kansas.

Nick Siebenmorgen, John Merchant, Jr. and Ryan Shockley left early Thursday morning for Clark County to help in the firefighting efforts.

Jordanne Shockley, public information officer and wife of Ryan Shockley, said the three firefighters worked a 10-hour shift Thursday, and returned home late Thursday night.

The Kansas State Fire Marshal’s office sent out a plea to all fire departments in the state for mutual aid in battling the fires, and Hiawatha city officials contacted them to see what they could provide.

Since last weekend, wildfires in Kansas have charred more than 1,000 square miles of land and damaged or destroyed dozens of structures.

The firefight Thursday was focused on four counties, down from twenty-one Monday.

One blaze, encompassing two counties along Kansas’ southern border with Oklahoma, is the biggest wildlife on record in Kansas.