REDFIELD, Iowa (DTN) -- An outbreak of wildfires across multiple states this week has left land burnt, cattle dead, structures ruined and feed piles destroyed.

The Ranger Road fire, which started Tuesday in Beaver County, Oklahoma, spread into Kansas, burning over 283,000 acres so far. It is still burning, according to reports from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry. Other fires have affected another 30,000-plus acres across other states.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture said high winds and dry conditions were contributing factors to the wildfires in several locations across Kansas this week. They suggest farmers and ranchers document any losses they have.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly issued a state of disaster emergency proclamation before the fires spread earlier this week, noting the drying grass, blowing dust and shifting winds cause rapid fire growth and erratic fire behavior.

Ashland, Kansas, the area affected by the Starbuck Fire nine years ago, was in the line of this fire, as well. Grassland was destroyed and cattle were lost again in this week's fire, but not to the extent of the previous fire.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency in Beaver, Texas and Woodward counties due to the destructive wildfires in northwest Oklahoma.

"A few homes were lost, and we're keeping our four injured firefighters in our prayers as they recover after working tirelessly," said Stitt. He praised the efforts of the firefighters and forestry crews as well as the evacuation of towns that were in the line of the fire. Stitt stressed the importance of everyone staying alert and taking fire warnings seriously.

HIGH WINDS CAUSE FIRE SPREAD

Weather conditions, including high winds, caused the spread of a fire in Johnson County, Iowa, west of Iowa City on Wednesday. Tyler Rogers, who had 600 acres of ground burnt in the fire, said 60-mile-per-hour winds made it hard to fight the blaze.

"We had 14 fire departments and many farmers and neighbors doing what it took to protect the houses and buildings," Rogers said. "These fire departments are a top-notch group that never backed down until they got it handled."

The departments fought with water while farmers brought tractors and discs and other implements to plow the soil to slow the fire.

Joe Burns has a farm about 1 1/2 miles east of the area where the fire happened. He said it jumped a wide paved road twice and three different gravel roads. The eastern Iowa fire traveled across soybean residue and CRP land with a lot of tall dead grass serving as fuel for the fire. "Small-town fire departments are pretty amazing," he added.

DROUGHT CONDITIONS CONTINUE

The most recent U.S. Drought Monitor shows several areas of severe or extreme drought in these areas. The latest report showed 48.58% of the U.S. in moderate drought or worse with 146.3 million people living in areas of drought conditions.

DTN Ag Meteorologist Teresa Wells said: "Over the last 60 days, precipitation has largely been below average across the Southern Plains, Mississippi Delta and Ohio Valley. Across Nebraska and Kansas, precipitation has been closer to average; however, this hasn't put the brakes on wildfire risks late this winter across the region. This week, we've seen critical fire weather conditions develop across the Plains and Midwest."

Wells said precipitation was limited, and gusty winds contributed to the fire risks.

"Dry conditions, combined with gusty winds and warm temperatures, is a recipe for elevated wildfire conditions, especially when there hasn't been a green-up in the vegetation," she added.

Over the next seven days, precipitation is expected to miss the Southern Plains, where wildfire activity has been elevated lately. Storm systems from the West will move across the north-central U.S. As these systems move through, they could bring isolated rain and snow showers. A system currently moving through the Central Plains and Midwest could bring a swath of snow, providing some beneficial moisture.

Fire weather watches and red flag warnings continue for many areas of Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Colorado.

Several funds have been set up to help producers affected by the recent wildfires:

-- Oklahoma Cattlemen's Foundation Fire Relief Fund: https://oklahomacattlemensassociation.growthzoneapp.com/….

-- Kansas Livestock Foundation Wildfire Relief: https://www.kla.org/….

-- The Oklahoma Forestry Service has a guide for recovering from wildfire: https://ag.ok.gov/….

-- The Kansas Department of Agriculture Wildfire Recovery Resources are here: https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/….

Jennifer Carrico can be reached at jennifer.carrico@dtn.com

Follow her on social platform X @JennCattleGal

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