Home / Disasters and Accidents / Nebraska Wildfires: State's Largest Blaze Rages On
Nebraska Wildfires: State's Largest Blaze Rages On
19 Mar
Summary
- Largest wildfire in Nebraska history scorches over 1,005 square miles.
- One person died, dozens of structures burned in the ongoing fires.
- Wildfires threaten grazing land for over 35,000 cattle.
A coalition of firefighters and volunteers has been actively battling wildfires in western and central Nebraska for seven consecutive days. The largest of these fires, known as the Morrill County fire, has become the largest wildfire in Nebraska's history, scorching approximately 1,005 square miles across five counties. This massive blaze, along with three others, has collectively burned about 1,300 square miles, an area larger than Rhode Island.
The fires, fueled by dry prairie grass and red cedar, were exacerbated by strong winds exceeding 60 mph last week. While a lull in the wind and some precipitation on Tuesday allowed firefighters to gain a better hold on the flames, the Morrill County fire remained only 16% contained by midday Wednesday. The Cottonwood fire, the second-largest, had burned over 205 square miles and was about 40% contained.
