Wildfires Leaving a Disaster for Ranchers

Wildfires raging across three states are leaving behind a disaster for farmers and ranchers. Thousands of acres have been charred between Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, and at least three ranch hands in Texas attempting to round up cattle from the fires were killed. A total of five deaths are being blamed on the fires as of Tuesday evening. The dry conditions and high winds continue to fuel the fires. At least 626 square miles have burned in Kansas, and three fires have burned more than 195 square miles of land in Texas. Oklahoma officials estimate more than 400,000 acres have burned in the Northwest portion of the state. The Kansas Livestock Association and the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association have both set up relief funds for ranchers in their respective states. The relief fund efforts include cash, fencing and hay needs for the ranchers affected by the fires. Learn more about the relief efforts online at KLA dot org (www.kla.org), or OK cattlemen dot org (www.okcattlemen.org).