Governor Jim Pillen has issued an emergency proclamation to unlock state resources and support the response to several wildfires in central and western Nebraska that have burned hundreds of thousands of acres of land across multiple counties and resulted in evacuations in nearby communities.
Roadways have also been closed due to low visibility. “These fires present a significant and active danger, given current weather conditions,” Pillen says. “Anyone living within proximity to current wildfires are urged to heed communications issued by local authorities, including their respective county emergency management agencies.”
The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency has received 24 reports of wildfires in the past 24 hours. Some of the major fires being tracked include south of the communities of Halsey and Dunning within the Nebraska National Forest, the Cottonwood Fire south of I-80, near Brady and Gothenburg, the Morrill County Fire north of Nebraska Highway 92, between Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Lake McConaughy and the Anderson Bridge Fire west of Valentine.
Governor Pillen has authorized the deployment of 26 Nebraska National Guard soldiers and airmen to assist local fire crews. He has also ordered the deployment of a fixed-wing fire suppression aircraft and the deployment of a Nebraska Army National Guard helicopter and crew to support local fire fighters with quick and targeted aerial water drops, particularly in areas where ground respond capabilities are limited.
Pillen is also activating the State Emergency Operations Center to provide centralized interagency coordination and monitoring at NEMA headquarters in Lincoln.
(Photo: Nebraska State Patrol )