Wildfire in Meade, Kansas

Wildfire February 17, 2026 – February 24, 2026 · Meade, Kansas

What the National Weather Service wrote

The Ranger Road fire was a large wildfire that began in Beaver County, OK during the early afternoon hours of February 17th. Fueled by strong southwesterly winds and low relative humidity, the fire spread quickly into Kansas. It was reported by local ranchers that hundreds of cattle perished in the fire. The exact acreage burned in Meade County is unknown, but the total acreage burned from the fire was 283,383. The fire was controlled February 24.

The wider storm

Strong mid-upper level trough ejected into the Plains early on February 17 which led to a rapid deepening of a surface cyclone. Strong winds developed behind the cold frontal passage, leading to numerous high wind reports across central and western Kansas. Large wildfires spread quickly as a result of the strong winds.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event 1319964. Narratives are written by the National Weather Service forecast office that issued the report.

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