What is the name and location of the wildfire?
As of February 18, 2026, the Ranger Road Fire originated in Beaver County in the Oklahoma Panhandle and has since spread north into southern Kansas, impacting areas in Clark and Meade counties.
The fire has crossed the Oklahoma and Kansas state line, burned near the Cimarron River, and affected communities along Highway 64, Highway 270, and Highway 283. The blaze has been moving rapidly east-northeast under strong wind conditions (1).
Which cities or areas are affected by the wildfire?
The cities and areas affected by the Ranger Road Fire include:
- Ashland, Kansas
- Beaver, Oklahoma
- Coldwater, Kansas
- Englewood, Kansas
- Forgan, Oklahoma
- Knowles, Oklahoma
- Meade, Kansas
- Minneola, Kansas
- Mooreland, Oklahoma
- Woodward, Oklahoma
What is the current containment status of the wildfire?
As of February 18, 2026, the Ranger Road Fire remains 0% contained.
Fire officials report extreme rates of spread driven by gusts exceeding 65 mph, limiting aerial firefighting operations and complicating suppression efforts.
Multiple local fire departments, state agencies, and emergency management teams are actively engaged in response operations across impacted areas (2).
Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place?
Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for Ashland, Englewood, and surrounding rural areas after the fire crossed Highway 283 and advanced toward residential communities. Residents in parts of Clark and Comanche counties in Kansas have been directed to evacuate immediately under Level 3 Go orders.
Evacuees have been instructed to head east toward Coldwater, Kansas, where a shelter has been established at the South Central Schools USD 300 Gymnasium located at 600 Garfield Street.
Additional evacuation orders were issued in Woodward, Oklahoma, including areas south of Oklahoma Avenue and west of 22nd Street, with shelters opened at the Mooreland Community Center, Mooreland United Methodist Church, and Vici Community Building. Some evacuation orders in Woodward have since been lifted, though select areas remain under restriction as fire conditions continue to evolve (3).
Authorities continue to urge residents not to drive through smoke and to monitor official emergency alerts due to rapidly changing fire behavior and critical fire weather conditions across the region (4).
Protect yourself from wildfire smoke
See how a wildfire smoke air purifier can help clean your air.
How can I protect myself from wildfire smoke?
Always plan ahead to protect yourself from wildfire smoke.
- Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
- Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
- Run a high-performance air purifier to filter wildfire smoke.
- Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
- Stay indoors; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.
As of February 18, 2026, this fire is 0% contained.
