A huge plume of smoke blots out the sky as the Ranger Road Fire burns in Beaver County, Oklahoma on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026.
(Oklahoma Forestry Services)
At least four firefighters were injured battling fast-moving wildfires in western Oklahoma. Evacuations were ordered in multiple counties Tuesday, as high winds across the Plains also spurred wildfires in Kansas and Texas.
Oklahoma
By Tuesday night, more than 155,000 acres were scorched across four Oklahoma counties. The biggest fire, the Ranger Road Fire, is burning in Beaver County, consuming at least 145,000 acres, according to the Oklahoma Forestry Services.
The agency said wind gusts over 65 mph were observed in the county on Tuesday.
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Voluntary evacuations were issued in Beaver, Texas and Woodward counties. Local reports say numerous structures were destroyed in all three counties.
Gov. Kevin Stitt pledged assistance and state resources to the response and recovery efforts and said he was praying for the the families affected and the “brave first responders on the front lines.”
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported a fire truck from Rosston Fire overturned, injuring three firefighters. The Oklahoma Forestry Services reported that another firefighter was injured and taken to a hospital on Tuesday, but it wasn’t clear where the incident happened.
The high fire danger remains Wednesday, with a red flag warning in place, as warm temperatures, low humidity, gusty winds and dry conditions persist.
Kansas
The Ranger Road Fire crossed into Kansas Tuesday, racing into Englewood and Ashland, said the Kansas Division of Emergency Management.
The Kansas Forest Service also reported at least three other fires, two in Seward County plus the Garden City Fire in Finney County.
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Crews battle the Garden City Fire in Finney County on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026.
(Garden City Fire Department)
That fire was 0% contained Tuesday night and the city’s Fire Department said crews remained on the scene, but no loss of homes nor injuries were reported.
Parts of Interstate 70 were shut down after low visibility and blowing dust caused multiple crashes. The highway was closed in both directions between Colby and Oakley but the Kansas Department of Transportation said all lanes were reopened Tuesday night.
Texas
Crews are responding to multiple fires in the Texas Panhandle.
The 8 Ball Fire in Armstrong County has scorched at least 9,000 acres and is about 25% contained, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.
The 8 Ball Fire burning in Armstrong County, Texas, on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 20206
(Texas A&M Forest Services)
The Lavender Fire has burned at least 8,500 acres near Valley de Oro, about 18 miles northwest of Amarillo. That fire is about 10% contained.
At least five other fires were 100% contained on Tuesday night.
The fires across the Panhandle shut down multiple roads and caused evacuations Tuesday.
The National Weather Service in Amarillo warned that critical fire weather would return Wednesday, even though winds might be slightly lower. They urged residents to be ready to evacuate.
Jonathan Erdman, weather.com senior digital meteorologist says, “While we’re not expecting the same 70-plus mph gusts we saw yesterday, strong wind gusts are again expected by this afternoon over the southern High Plains that could rapidly spread either existing or new wildfires.”
He adds, “Gusty west winds ahead of a cold front tomorrow could still be a threat for wildfires in Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle.”