Good morning.

I'm Cedric and this is your EM Morning Brief for Friday, February 20, 2026 wildfire response remains the top national concern this morning centered on the Southern Plains in Oklahoma's Panhandle and Western counties.

State Emergency management reports multiple large fires led by the Ranger Road Fire burning into Kansas, along with active damage reporting and Federal Fire Management Assistance grants to help reimburse eligible firefighting costs.

In Texas, the state reports a Federal Fire Management Assistance Grant approved for the Eight Ball fire in the Panhandle as crews work amid ongoing critical fire weather.

Elsewhere, winter weather impacts continue in parts of the Upper Midwest where National Weather Service advisories and warnings highlight periods of accumulating snow and hazardous travel.

On the national weather front, the Weather Prediction Center's latest Day One Excessive Rainfall Outlook keeps flash flood risk low overall and the National Hurricane center reports no active tropical cyclones in the Atlantic or Pacific basins at this time.

Let's run through the states.

In California, the main immediate concern is cold conditions in parts of the Sacramento Valley where the National Weather Service issues a freeze warning and a cold weather advisory covering communities including Chico, Redding, Sacramento and nearby areas.

Guidance emphasizes protecting people, pets, plants and sensitive plumbing during the coldest hours.

Kansas continues active wildfire response and recovery support.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture reports multiple fires burning across the state since February 17th with agricultural impacts including livestock losses, and notes ongoing coordination and resources for producers for incident specifics tied to the Cross Border Ranger Road fire.

Oklahoma's latest official update places the fire footprint in Kansas and reports it at 283,283 acres with 15% containment, underscoring the need to follow local evacuation notices and road closures where issued and to report damages through local channels.

In Minnesota, winter weather remains the key operational issue.

National Weather Service products for parts of the region continue to flag periods of accumulating snow and travel impacts, conditions that can turn roads slick quickly during the morning commute and overnight periods.

Oklahoma remains in active wildfire response with state emergency management reporting updated fire estimates and ongoing coordination.

The Ranger Road fire in Beaver county burning into Kansas is reported at 283,283 acres and 15% contained.

The Stevens fire in Texas county is reported at 12,428 acres and 50% contained and additional fires include the Side Road fire and the 43 fire.

Oklahoma asks residents impacted by fires to report property damage through the state's online damage survey to support response and recovery coordination and notes FEMA approval of three fire management assistance grants tied to key incidents.

Fire departments are advised to document eligible response costs.

Texas reports the highest current public safety impacts in the Panhandle wildfire response overnight, the state says FEMA approves a Fire Management Assistance grant for the eight ball fire that started in Armstrong county and entered Donley county, with the fire threatening homes and infrastructure and prompting local evacuations.

Wisconsin's near term focus is winter travel impacts in areas under National Weather Service winter weather advisories and warnings with periods of moderate to heavy snow in parts of the region and reduced visibility at times.

All other states have no significant updates in the last 24 hours.

That's your EMN morning brief.

Stay safe and I'll be back Monday.

Have a good weekend.