An unstable wildfire threat is spreading across the Southern Plains this week, with the largest blaze at the start of the 2026 wildfire season, the Ranger Road Fire, burning large swaths of western Oklahoma and southwestern Kansas.
On Tuesday, the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management reported widespread wildfire activity in Beaver, Texas and Woodward counties, with the activation of the State Emergency Operations Center and coordinated support from multiple state, federal and tribal partners.
A fire engulfs a home in western Oklahoma on February 17, 2026 after the Range Road Fire exploded in size. (Image credit: Brian Emfinger)
The Ranger Road fire alone burned an estimated 145,000 acres, burning grass and brush in both Oklahoma and Kansas Wednesday and the continued threat of severe fire weather conditions. Combined with several other smaller fires, including the Stevens, Side Road and 43 road fires, the total acreage affected across the region has reached 155,000 acres, according to emergency managers.
About half a dozen structures were destroyed after the fire on Tuesday.
Cows are moved to safety after the Range Road Fire erupted on February 17, 2026 in western Oklahoma. (Image credit: Brian Emfinger)
Video from storm chaser Brian Emfinger shows several homes and outbuildings on fire as cattle ranchers try to get cows out of the flames. One woman told Amfinger she had returned to help her mother move her 11 horses and some pigs.
“The fire was flying over me,” she said after leading the horse to safety.
A horse is led to safety as flames engulf farmland in western Oklahoma after the Range Road Fire exploded in size on February 17, 2026. (Image credit: Brian Emfinger)
Winds gusting to more than 60 mph helped the flames quickly spread northeastward through dry grasslands, forcing initial containment efforts and grounding aerial firefighting operations. High wind speeds also contributed to dangerous flying dust and poor visibility, creating secondary hazards for travelers on regional roadways.
AccuWeather Extreme Meteorologist Dr. Reid Timmer captured the fire swirling as wind-tossed flames swept across the dry landscape near Englewood, Kansas.
Emergency officials issued evacuation orders for communities in Beaver County and surrounding areas, with shelters set up in Mooreland, Woodward and other locations to assist displaced residents. In Kansas, evacuation orders were enforced near Inglewood and Ashland after the fire crossed the state line, with officials urging residents to leave early and stay updated on developing conditions.
Emergency managers said four firefighters were injured fighting a fire in Beaver County, including three when a fire truck overturned. Another firefighter was taken to a regional hospital for treatment.
A critical fire season, characterized by strong winds, warm weather and very low humidity, remains in parts of the plains. This combination dramatically increases the potential for new ignition sources and rapid fire spread through dried vegetation. Residents and land managers alike are warned to avoid any activities that could start a fire, such as welding, open burning or operating equipment on dry grass.
As crews continue to battle existing fires and weather conditions remain unfavorable for containment, communities across the Plains are urged to remain vigilant, follow evacuation instructions and monitor local fire danger forecasts through official channels.
