Southwest Kansas remains alert for wildfires amidst extreme weather conditions

By: Morgan Chilson

Outlets: Kansas Reflector

Published: March 4, 2026

Words: 821

Last Updated: 6 days, 21 hours ago

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TOPEKA — Southwest Kansas rancher Cole Gardiner is in recovery mode after a wildfire tore through 35,000 acres and kicked around 200 cattle.

Gardiner Angus Ranch, located near Ashland, has been in his family for 150 years. In his lifetime, Gardiner remembers only one other fire that was as devastating, the Starbuck Fire that occurred about nine years ago.

The Ranger Road fire, which started in Oklahoma on Feb. 17 and spread into …

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