SEWARD COUNTY, Kan. (KSNW) — Hundreds of thousands of acres burned across southern Kansas this week, with people losing their pastures, farmland, cattle and, in some cases, their homes.
Randall Thorp’s family has farmed land south of Kismet in Seward County for generations. But the land is now reduced to ashes and the family faces the daunting task of rebuilding from the ground up.
He said they received an evacuation call from the Seward County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday afternoon.
“We just kind of grabbed the few things that we thought were the most important and then had everybody load up and get out of there,” Thorpe said.
Resources for Kansas ranchers and residents affected by wildfires
Within hours, the home he had lived with his wife for more than three decades, the home where his 95-year-old mother lived, and a rental property were all gone.
Barns and farm equipment were also destroyed, along with nearly 800 acres of land.
“To see everything move so fast that you’ve been working towards it your whole life… it’s unbelievable,” Thorpe said.
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Kismet wildfire damage on February 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
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Kismet wildfire damage on February 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
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Kismet wildfire damage on February 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
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Kismet wildfire damage on February 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
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Kismet wildfire damage on February 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
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Kismet wildfire damage on February 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
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Kismet wildfire damage on February 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
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Kismet wildfire damage on February 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
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Kismet wildfire damage on February 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
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Kismet wildfire damage on February 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
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Kismet wildfire damage on February 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
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Kismet wildfire damage on February 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp) Kismet wildfire damage on February 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
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Kismet wildfire damage on February 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
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Kismet wildfire damage on February 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
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Kismet wildfire damage on February 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
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Kismet wildfire damage on February 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
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Kismet wildfire damage on February 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
But he’s thankful his cow survived.
“Luckily this time of year we have cattle grazing on wheat and straw, and of course they’re not on our pasture where all the grass is on fire, so we’re able to keep them safe,” Thorpe said.
As the family turned its focus to recovery, neighbors stepped in to help rebuild fences and haul water to the cattle.
“Well, our plan is to get over this and rebuild and move forward,” Thorpe said.
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