322,000 Acres Burned: Cold Front Gives Oklahoma Firefighters One Last Chance Before Conditions Worsen

After one of the most destructive stretches of wildfire activity the southern Plains has seen in years, a cold front that swept through Oklahoma late Thursday is offering firefighters a narrow window to gain ground this weekend. But forecasters are already warning that the relief will be short-lived.

Where Things Stand This Weekend

The Ranger Road Fire remains the dominant threat in the region. The blaze has burned more than 283,000 acres across Beaver County in the Oklahoma Panhandle and into Clark and Meade counties in southern Kansas, making it the largest wildfire of the 2026 season so far. Containment has slowly improved to around 20% as shifting weather conditions through Friday gave ground crews more room to work.

Combined with several other active fires, including the Stevens Fire in Texas County at more than 12,400 acres and 50% contained, the Side Road Fire at over 3,600 acres and 60% contained, and the 43 Road Fire in Woodward County at 1,680 acres and 30% contained, the total acreage scorched across the region has surpassed 322,000 acres.