SEWARD COUNTY, Kan. (KSNW) — In the hundreds of thousands of acres that have burned in southern Kansas this week, people have lost pasture and cropland, cattle, and, in some cases, even their homes.
For generations, Randall Thorp’s family has farmed land south of Kismet in Seward County. But that land is now reduced to ash, and the family faces the daunting task of rebuilding from scratch.
He said they received the call to evacuate from the Seward County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday afternoon.
“We’re like grabbing what few things we thought were the most important and got everybody loaded up and got out of there,” Thorp said.
Itchy eyes and trouble breathing tied to poor air quality in Kansas from recent wildfires
Within hours, the home he shared with his wife for more than three decades, the home his 95‑year‑old mother lives in, and a rental property were gone.
Barns and farm equipment were also destroyed, along with nearly 800 acres of land.
“To see everything gone so fast that you worked your whole life for … it’s just unbelievable,” Thorp said.
Kismet wildfire damage on Feb. 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
Kismet wildfire damage on Feb. 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
Kismet wildfire damage on Feb. 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
Kismet wildfire damage on Feb. 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
Kismet wildfire damage on Feb. 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
Kismet wildfire damage on Feb. 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
Kismet wildfire damage on Feb. 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
Kismet wildfire damage on Feb. 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
Kismet wildfire damage on Feb. 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
Kismet wildfire damage on Feb. 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
Kismet wildfire damage on Feb. 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
Kismet wildfire damage on Feb. 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)Kismet wildfire damage on Feb. 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
Kismet wildfire damage on Feb. 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
Kismet wildfire damage on Feb. 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
Kismet wildfire damage on Feb. 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
Kismet wildfire damage on Feb. 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
Kismet wildfire damage on Feb. 18, 2026 (Courtsey: Randall Thorp)
But he’s thankful his cattle survived.
“Fortunately, this time of year we run our cattle on the wheat and stalks, and they weren’t down in our pastures, of course, where all the grass fires were at, so we were able to keep them all safe,” Thorp said.
Neighbors have stepped in to help rebuild fences and haul water for the cattle as the family turns its focus to recovery.
“Well, our plans are to overcome this and rebuild and keep going,” Thorp said.
