Hundreds of Cattle Lost in Ranger Road Fire

Ashland rancher Greg Gardiner faces devastating losses, still recovering from 2017 Starbuck Fire

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The Ranger Road Fire has burned nearly 300,000 acres in rural southwest Kansas, and Ashland rancher Greg Gardiner has lost around 300 heads of cattle - a fraction of the 1,400 he lost in the 2017 Starbuck Fire. Gardiner says he was just starting to recover from that previous loss when this latest disaster struck.

Why it matters

Cattle ranching is a critical part of the economy and way of life in rural Kansas, and these large-scale losses can be devastating for individual ranchers and the broader community. The frequency of these major wildfires is also raising concerns about the long-term impacts of climate change on agriculture in the region.

The details

Gardiner tends thousands of cattle between Ashland and Englewood, and he was able to mobilize quickly to save many of his animals this time, limiting the losses to around 300 head compared to the 1,400 lost in 2017. However, he notes that rebuilding from these disasters takes years, as it's a 3-year cycle to produce an animal for market.

  • The Ranger Road Fire has burned nearly 300,000 acres so far.
  • Gardiner lost around 300 heads of cattle in the latest fire.
  • In the 2017 Starbuck Fire, Gardiner lost 1,400 heads of cattle.
  • Gardiner says he was just made whole from the 2017 loss last week.

The players

Greg Gardiner

An Ashland, Kansas rancher who tends thousands of cattle between Ashland and Englewood.

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What they’re saying

“It's a three-year cycle of producing an animal to get it to the public's table. I was just thinking last week that the Starbuck Fire of March 6, 2017, is embedded in our history and our memory.”

— Greg Gardiner, Rancher (ksn.com)

What’s next

Gardiner says the best way to help is through direct cash donations, fence supplies or feed as he works to rebuild his herd.

The takeaway

This latest devastating wildfire highlights the ongoing challenges facing cattle ranchers in Kansas, who must contend with the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events that threaten their livelihoods and the broader agricultural economy of the region.