WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – Strong winds, dry ground and unseasonably warm temperatures elevated the fire risk for much of western Kansas. Fires that initially popped up on radar in northwest Oklahoma are adding to the dangerous situation. You can follow updates below as we monitor situations in impacted areas.
5:54 p.m. update – K-23 from Dighton (Lane County) to K-156 is closed in both directions due to heavy smoke and no visibility.
Multiple agencies are working to fight and contain the fire.
5:33 p.m. update – Comanche County 911 says that everyone south of Highway 160 and west of Road 5 needs to evacuate.
Evacuees should go to South Central High School in Coldwater for emergency shelter.
South Central High School: 600 N Leavenworth Ave, Coldwater, KS 67029
5:21 p.m. update – Reach Church in Pratt is available to wildfire evacuees. If you are in need of accommodation, call the church at 620-672-2384 to let them know you are on the way.
Reach Church – 1000 E 6th St, Pratt, KS 67124
5:02 p.m. update – There are two active fires in Seward County, according to Seward County Emergency Management.
Multiple surrounding counties are helping to contain the fires. There is currently no evacuation threat to Liberal.
Kansas Highway Patrol has issued precautionary evacuations for the southwest corner of Seward County.
4:56 p.m. update – Rawlins County Emergency Management says that fire crews and local farmers are continuing to work on containing the fire near Herndon.
The fire is considered 80% contained as of 4:30 p.m.
Herndon was evacuated out of an abundance of caution, along with four rural homes. Evacuees were directed to the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Atwood.
4:37 p.m. update – The Garden City Fire Department and multiple agencies are currently on scene of an active grass fire at 13890 Mennonite Road, Garfield Township. Due to heavy smoke and zero visibility from the fire, the public is asked to avoid the area until further notice.
4:20 p.m. update – A shelter in Coldwater is being set up for Ashland evacuees.
South Central Schools – USD 300 Gymnasium (600 E Garfield St, Coldwater, KS 67029)Entrance on the east side of school, through east gymnasium doors
4:05 p.m. update – The city of Liberal, KS has opened two shelters for evacuees. Anyone displaced should head to the nearest center:
Seward County Activity Center (810 Stadium Ave, Liberal, KS 67901)CrossPoint Church (204 N Sherman Ave, Liberal, KS 67901)
3:23 p.m. update – The city of Herndon in Rawlins Co. is evacuating. A shelter is located in Atwood, at the Redeemer Lutheran Church.
3:10 p.m. update – U.S. 50 is closed between Holcomb and U.S. 83 near Garden City due to multiple vehicle crashes caused by blowing dust.
📷 TRAFFIC ALERT: U.S. 50 west of Garden City is CLOSED due to a multiple vehicle crash because of blowing dust.
Crews are redirecting traffic. At this time, we do not have an estimate for when the highway will reopen.
Please avoid the area and use an alternate route. pic.twitter.com/FD3Sdf6K2R
— SWKansasKDOT (@SWKansasKDOT) February 17, 2026
3:00 p.m update – Lane County Fire has multiple units assisting Finney County on a fire suppression operation south of County Line.
2:45 p.m. update – The Clark County Emergency Management now confirms that the town of Ashland is being asked to evacuate due to the fire. The fire has jumped Highway 283, and people are being asked to go east to Coldwater or Pratt. The Ashland Community Center has also opened to evacuees at 800 Main Street.
2:05 p.m. update – The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) has closed I-70 between Colby and Oakley due to multiple crashed caused by blowing dust and low visibilty.
For the latest updates on road closures and conditions, visit kandrive.gov, or call 511 in Kansas or 866-511-5368 outside Kansas.
1:45 p.m. update – A new fire, detected on radar in northeast Finney County is racing to the northeast. The piece of fortunate news is that this fire is moving away from the Garden City areas.
Fire in northeast Finney County(KWCH)
A wildfire that’s burned more than 1,500 acres near Beaver, Oklahoma, in the panhandle, is spreading northeast and threatening portions of southwest Kansas. This threat prompted the evacuation of Englewood, a small community in Clark County.
Schools let out early in the town of Ashland, and the courthouse and several businesses closed due to the wildfire threat.
Clark County Extension Agent Emma Klein said that driving through town, people are lined up to get gas, “getting ready” for worst case scenario.
There are reports of requests for aide in the effort to keep the the fire from spreading to larger populated areas.
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