2023 Nebraska/Iowa Wild Fire Season

[Coyote]

Papillion brush fire contained, Highway 370 reopened



A large amount of smoke from a brush fire could be seen drifting over the metro Saturday afternoon. A fire in Papillion near Highway 370 and 66th Street kept crews busy Saturday. The smoke from the fire was heading north and crossing over much of Omaha.

[Cermak]

I thought I smelled smoke this evening. We need some rain soon.

[Brad]

I saw one picture on Twitter yesterday afternoon looking east on 370 from somewhere near 80th towards 72 and the lens compression make the fire look crazy.

Another big fire overnight near Union Nebraska. Lake Waconda was evacuated….

[GenX]

Lake Waconda was evacuated….

Lake Waconda Forever!

[Coyote]

'The terrain of this fire is treacherous': Firefighters give an update on brush fire burning near Lake Waconda
The Cass County Sheriff's Office advised people to avoid the area.

The Nebraska Emergency Management Association says a brush fire burning near Lake Waconda has burned more than 650 acres as of Sunday. NEMA says the fire started in Iowa Saturday and jumped across the Missouri River into Nebraska around 6 p.m. The Cass County Sheriff's Office posted on social media late Saturday night calling the fire a "dangerous situation" that was threatening homes in the Lake Waconda area.

[Brad]

Aerial Photo showing it start in Iowa and jump the Missouri River in to Nebraska:

[Coyote]

Firefighters and a National Guard helicopter fight wildfire near Union, Nebraska



Firefighters and a National Guard helicopter fight a wildfire south of Lake Waconda, near Union, Nebraska

[Coyote]

'Much better than it was yesterday': Officials give update on Cass County fire



CASS COUNTY, Neb.—State authorities said the brush fire in Cass County has scorched 697 acres over the weekend, devouring farmland and trees. The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said this is like the fires it sees out west. "As these fires occur sooner in the year, we have to think about making sure that we have the adequate resources that we have available to fight these fires," public information officer Jodie Fawl said. She said they applied for a fire management assistance grant through FEMA, and that it was approved that same evening. She said it will pay for some of the response to this blaze.

[Brad]

A buddy of mine said yesterday (4/11) there were fires near Norfolk, Fairbury, Valentine, and in Omaha at NP Dodge Park.

[lpgforms]

The fires were across the river from NP Dodge park - My oldest kid has a house in the Ponca Hills with a great view of the river and the flames were pretty intense.

That area of Iowa is all scrub and dead/dying trees so this fire is probably a good thing as long as it stays under control.

[Coyote]

NEMA secures federal grant to help with expenses of Waconda-Beaver Lake fire
NEMA says the resources of volunteer and smaller fire departments can be exhausted by large fires. In the Waconda-Beaver Lake fire several agencies stepped in to help. Now, those agencies will be getting a FEMA grant to help with expenses.



Three fires continue to burn in Cherry, Jefferson and Garfield counties in Nebraska.

As the high temperatures continue, fires are expected to as well. Nebraska Emergency Management Agency says for small and volunteer fire departments, large fires can affect their resources. Donny Christensen, the Recovery Section administrator, said the Waconda-Beaver Lake fire is one example. "A lot of the resources exhausted were just the local volunteer fire departments, you know, the village of Union, the village of Murray, they had been on scene for sure. Many, many hours," he said. Christensen said many of the departments across Nebraska are volunteer organizations. NEMA was able to secure a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant in the instance of the Waconda-Beaver Lake fire to get expenses reimbursed. However, volunteer departments don't get paid for manpower.

[Coyote]

Omaha metro fire departments watch for grass fires amid dry conditions



On Tuesday, a fire erupted on the north side of Omaha’s Ponca Hills neighborhood. Chief Joel Sacks with the Ponca Hills Fire Department called it a close call. “There’s a house that is on top of the hill that if the fire would’ve continued it would’ve been threatened,” Sacks said. Sacks told 6 News the call for the fire was around 2 p.m. They called on several fire departments like Bennington, Fort Calhoun, and Boys Town to join the fight because the fire was difficult to put out.

[Cermak]

Fires burning right now in Ponca hills area. Smoke visible from downtown according to local news websites.

[Brad]

Fires burning right now in Ponca hills area. Smoke visible from downtown according to local news websites.

Its closer to the River, just north of I 680. I believe its actually been burning since 4/11. I heard somewhere its mostly debris from the 2019 flood and they are just trying to contain it and not really put it out.

[Flyer14]

A lot of people miss that last point Brad. These fires along the river need to happen. The last few floods have left so many downed trees and overgrowth behind its just a big tinder box building for years. The less often some burning happens the more destructive the fires can become. I completely agree with their approach to them.

[Coyote]

Nebraska's wildfire problem putting strain on volunteer firefighters, equipment



ELMWOOD, Neb. — As the number of wildfires in Nebraska increases, so does the use of firefighters' equipment. Elmwood Fire and Rescue said this puts more wear and tear on engines and personnel. With large wildfires like these continuing to be a frequent problem, Elmwood fire said it causes equipment to be used more. It has also made them realize the need for more wildfire equipment and hope people take fire safety seriously.

[Coyote]

Fire officials hoping rain brings relief to rash of brush fires across Omaha metro



Omaha-metro firefighters are hoping the clouds bring enough relief to stop the smoldering leftovers from the all-out brush fires they’ve been fighting this week. On the Nebraska side of the Missouri River, Omaha fire crews never left NP Dodge Park. “Just kind of keeping an eye on it,” said Omaha Fire Department acting assistant chief Scott Fitzpatrick. “We know that there’s going to be some smoldering fires, there’s going to be tree stumps on fire, so we’re just down here watching it, making sure it doesn’t move if the wind shifts.” There are a lot of flood-damaged trees on the outside of the park, and several have already fallen.

[Coyote]

Ponca Hills wildfire leaves years of lasting damage for former Douglas County board member



Clean up continues in Ponca Hills, where 11 days ago a blistering wildfire jumped the Missouri River and scorched NP Dodge Park. Right next door, the farm of former Douglas County board member Clare Duda and the fire's impact will take years to overcome. "We're devastated over the environmental impact of what went on here," Duda said. Charred trees, smoldering mounds and little wildlife remain in the once flourished forest within Duda farms.

"The handful of mature trees that have been surviving everything so far, most of them are not going to be able to survive this," Duda said. The April 13 blaze that singed hundreds of acres was unprecedented for Duda, a Ponca Hills firefighter of 47 years. "It is the biggest fire I've ever seen and the biggest fire scene I've ever seen," Duda said. "I called my wife and told her to alert the family the fire had jumped the river and she was doing it very calmly until she looked out the window and saw these huge flames coming through the woods, she'd never seen anything like that and it scared her. It would scare me too."