Wildfires cause devastation in multiple states across the country
Mid-west farmers and ranchers in need of hay, feed, ranching supplies lost from blazes
by Pinedale Online!
March 9, 2017
Wildfires have been burning this past week in the Texas Panhandle, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, and Florida. At least seven people have died due to the wildfires, five in Texas, one in Oklahoma and one in Kansas.
Three major fires are active in the Texas Panhandle which are reported to be 12 to 15 miles across and burning more than 436,000 acres. Five people have died in Texas due to wildfires. Three people were overrun by fire and died while trying save their cattle. Two homes have been consumed in fires in Texas.
In northeastern Colorado, a wildfire driven by strong winds consumed over 30,000 acres, destroyed homes and vehicles and killed cattle in its path near the towns of Sterling and Haxtun, northeast of Denver. At least five homes have been lost in the blaze and several more were damaged. Another 15 outbuildings, including barns, were said to be destroyed, as well as numerous vehicles, including tractors vital to the area’s farmers and ranchers. There are also reports of dozens of head of cattle killed in the fire and tens of thousands of dollars in hay destroyed. One rancher interviewed reported losing 180 head of cattle. That wildfire was reported to be 100% contained by Thursday, March 8 and the community is in the process of cleaning up and rebuilding.
How to help
COLORADO: Help is being sought for Colorado farmers and ranchers who lost cattle, hay and ranching supplies due to the wildfires. There is an immediate need for hay, feed, fencing supplies, and individuals willing to provide trucking supplies. The Colorado Farm Bureau Foundation has activated its Disaster Relief Fund in response to the fire in Logan and Phillips counties.
Donations can be made by mail to:
Colorado Farm Bureau Foundation
Attn: Disaster Fund
9177 E. Mineral Circle
Centennial, CO 80112
Donations can also be made online to the Colorado Farm Bureau’s disaster fund online here: https://www.coloradofarmbureau.com/index.php
Donations can also be taken to CHS Grainland in Haxtun. A loader and scale are both available, if needed. Contact Rick Unrein 970-520-3565 for more information about dropping off donations. Donations can also be dropped off at Justin Price's farm (11222 CR 7 Sedgwick, CO). For more information, please contact: Kent Kokes 970-580-8108, John Michal 970-522-2330, or Justin Price 970-580-6315.
KANSAS: In Kansas, the Kansas Livestock Association is organizing hay and fencing material donations for delivery to affected areas. 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, by going to http://www.kla.org/donationform.aspx.
OKLAHOMA: If you would like to donate to this relief effort in Oklahoma, you can do so by mail or online. Make checks payable to Oklahoma Cattlemen's Foundation and put "Fire Relief" in the memo line and send to P.O. Box 82395, Oklahoma City, OK 73148. To donate online, visit http://www.okcattlemen.org. If you would like to donate hay or trucking services for hay, you can do so by contacting either the Harper County Extension Office at 580-735-2252 or Buffalo Feeders at 580-727-5530 to make arrangements or provide trucking services.
Related Links
Farmers in need of supplies after northern Colorado fire - 9news.com, March 8, 2017
Fire relief for Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Texas - tsln.com, March 9, 2017
Three fires in Texas panhandle have burned over 400,000 acres - wildfiretoday.com, March 8, 2017
Dallas-area firefighters battle blazes that have killed 4 people in Texas Panhandle - dallasnews.com, March 7, 2017
Wildfires burn more than 1 million acres, taking 7 lives - CNN, March 7, 2017
Northeastern Colorado farmers cut fire lines to protect community from huge, wind-driven blaze - thedenverpost.com, March 8, 2017
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