The Ranger Road Fire that started in northwest Oklahoma before moving into Kansas burned an estimated 283,283 acres, according to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry. The agency also reports that the Stevens Fire burned an estimated 12,428 acres in Oklahoma and Kansas.
Ranchers in the hardest-hit areas have lost fence, livestock and forage resources. The Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) is helping organize hay and fencing donations for delivery to affected areas in Kansas. To make in-kind donations, call KLA at 785-273-5115. Cash donations can be made through the Kansas Livestock Foundation (KLF), KLA’s charitable arm, at tinyurl.com/3tfyfn72 or sending a check with “wildfire relief” written in the memo line, to 6031 S.W. 37th, Topeka, KS 66614. KLF is a 501 c(3) organization. Donations to the foundation are tax-deductible.
Monetary donations also can be made to the Ashland Community Foundation at tinyurl.com/2ffhkf2p or sending a check to P.O. Box 276, Ashland, KS 67831. Checks can be dropped off at the Stockgrowers State Bank (622 Main Street, Ashland, KS 67831), as well. Be sure to put “wildfire relief” in the memo line. Donations will be used to help fire victims in all five counties affected: Meade, Clark and Comanche counties in Kansas, and Beaver and Harper counties in Oklahoma. — KLA
