Local departments head to fires for mutual aid

Another weather-related red flag warning and fire watch was in effect March 17 as weary fire fighters, emergency medical teams and state and federal government officials were still working on containing four major wildfires, Road 203 south of Halsey and Dunning in the Nebraska National Forest; Cottonwood Fire in Lincoln County near Brady and Gothenburg; the Morrill County Fire north of Highway 92 near Lake McConaughy; and Anderson Bridge Fire west of Valentine. 

As of March 17, the Morrill Fire had a containment of 18 percent. It had burned 572,804 acres. Cottonwood was 40 percent contained after burning 131,259 acres. Road 203 burned 35,814 acres and was  36 percent contained. Anderson Bridge burned 17,400 acres and had a 60 percent containment.

The wildfires began last week when wind speeds reached near and above 60 miles per hour. As late as Sunday, the wind speed at Carleton was 58 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service.  

As of March 13, Gov. Jim Pillen issued a statewide burn ban to help reduce the potential for additional wildfires. Dry and windy conditions caused the spread of significant fires in the central and western parts of Nebraska. The ban is in effect until 11:59 p.m. March 27.

In a press conference, Pillen said one of the fires ignited from a controlled burn by the federal government. Another was from a downed power pole.   

Earlier, Pillen also issued an emergency proclamation activating the deployment of state resources to combat fires, including aircraft and personnel from the Nebraska National Guard. 

The Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team, made up of local, state and federal personnel from Nebraska, Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming, took over the Morrill and Cottonwood Fires March 14.

On March 16, Pillen signed an executive order for assistance with agricultural supplies for Nebraska. The order is in effect for 14 days and waives hours of service restrictions and adjusts the maximum load width/weight limits for commercial motor carriers that are providing direct assistance. 

Closer to home, the Thayer County Livestock Feeders Association is posting information for donations on social media.

The Feeders are working on the cattle side of the wildfires. Electric fence posts, wire and hay are needed in the next two weeks. On March 16, the Feeders announced they’ve had a lot of requests for monetary donations, so a separate account for fire relief was established at Thayer County Bank.

Local fire fighters also had their share of blazes. 

“At one point in the southeast corner of the state, I think every county had a fire or multiple fires,” Thayer County Emergency Manager Colt Farringer said. He was working to coordinate with the NWS out of Hastings that has the ability to identify hot spots with satellite.

The NWS plays a critical role in wind behavior and on that day, the wind started out from the southwest and by evening, it had changed directions to the northwest. 

“It completely changes how you’re going to fight fires. Everything that was at the back moves up front,” Farringer said.  

On March 12, the Chester and Byron volunteer fire departments responded to a wide swath of fire  in Republic County, where the blaze scorched 900 acres of open field and grassland on the west side of the county near Jewell County. 

“There were probably 80 fire fighters, 20 to 30 trucks and tankers on scene,” Republic Emergency Manager Ray Raney said. “It started from a tree pile lit about nine days before. I believe it was March 3. The fire was about five miles long.” 

Chester Fire Chief Bill Riggs said his department was there about three hours. 

“Tractors and discs were ahead of it to get a fire break,” Riggs said. They took about six trucks down, including two tankers and a pumper. 

Byron Fire Chief Tyler Tietjen said he saw departments from Hardy and Superior in addition to Byron and Chester. 

“It got into the canal and trees. Fire fighters spent more time putting out tree piles in the pasture and canal. It was both farm ground and pasture ground, and that’s why it took longer,” Tietjen said. 

Farringer said Gilead Fire provided mutual aid to Daykin and Gladstone for a fire in Jefferson County and Bruning went over to Ohiowa for mutual aid. Alexandria Fire wasn’t called, but pre-positioned near Mid America Feed Yard in case the fire spread. 

“Having them there cuts the lead time for fire fighters to get into the field,” Farringer said.

Farringer, who previously  worked raging wildfires in western Nebraska, was in constant communication with other emergency managers to see if they needed anything. 

He said the most critical issue is burn piles that can reignite weeks later as embers settle in hollowed out trees.

“I know out west there are plants with them in the root system that pop up in other places,” Farringer said. 

It makes him nervous for the rest of the year. 

“It was probably one of the windiest days I’ve seen for fighting fires,” Farringer said about March 12. “To see how fast they actually spread makes me nervous.”