Lancaster County wildfires

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Updates on wildfires across Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa
Wind-swept fires broke out Sunday, spreading quickly across dry farmland

A new fire had broken out near Murdock, Nebraska. Louisville, Weeping Water and Manley firefighters were among those responding.

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UPDATE: Fires controlled, not spreading per Lancaster County Sheriff
As of 8:00 pm Sunday night, the wildfires impacting much of southern Lancaster County are under control.

LANCASTER COUNTY - As of 8:00 pm Sunday night, the wildfires impacting much of southern Lancaster County are under control. Per a tweet from the Lancaster County Sheriff's office, all fires are under control and not spreading, but first responders are continuing to work on hot spot areas. The latest fire location is SW 100th to SW 86th and Gage Road to Panama Road. The City of Lincoln remains unthreatened.

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Wind-swept wildfires force evacuations across Eastern Nebraska, Western Iowa
At least two firefighters are injured in effort to stop field fires

LINCOLN, Neb. — Ferocious winds turned small fires into large ones across Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa Sunday, damaging homes and pushing hundreds of volunteer and professional firefighters to their limits. Farmers and law enforcement took stands along county roads and in farm fields parched by weeks of little or no rain. At least one firefighter was reported injured and a second needed medical treatment. Their agencies were not immediately available.

One fire threatened the community of Wisner in Northern Cuming county. Sirens sounded and the town evacuated until authorities were sure the fire no longer posed a threat to the town. Another broke out in western Harrison County, Iowa. A fire also forced voluntary evacuation orders in Northwest Montgomery County until it was contained Sunday evening.

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Aerial views of Sunday's wildfires in Southeast Nebraska
The State Patrol shares images of the fires south of Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. — The Nebraska State Patrol shared images Monday of the fires that raced across southeastern Nebraska Sunday. The State Patrol and the Lancaster County Sheriff's office used drones to look for hot spots once the fires had been contained. Three structures were lost in the fire, but Sheriff Terry Wagner said the work of farmers likely prevented more loss of property. Farmers could be seen on tractors, creating fire breaks in their fields to help stop the spread of the fire. "I think it speaks volumes for the volunteerism of the farmers and knowing what to do and just doing it," said Wagner.

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NSP says drones were eyes in the sky during Sunday fires

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Wildfires in southern Lancaster County prompt evacuations near Lincoln

LINCOLN — Two wildfires, propelled by gusty winds and dry conditions, prompted evacuations southwest of the Capital City and destroyed three homes. Two firefighters were injured, one seriously, in battling the blazes which broke out in midafternoon Sunday. Additional information about the injured firefighters was not immediately available Monday morning, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office said. One fire broke out south and west of Firth and, according to the Sheriff’s Office, spread “very rapidly to the north,” pushed by winds of over 30 mph. That fire was contained as of 6 p.m. Sunday, and no structures were reported destroyed. But a second wildfire, which broke out in the area of the Lancaster-Gage County line at Southwest. 86th Street, forced the evacuation of several residents in the path of the fire in the Hallam area. Roads were blocked off in that area, and three homes were destroyed. The Lincoln Journal-Star reported damage to the Olive Creek State Recreation Area northwest of Hallam. The Red Cross and Salvation Army set up a relief center at Lincoln Southwest High School for those displaced by the fire, and the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln was providing shelter for animals. The Hallam area fire was reported under control later Sunday night. A light drizzle was falling in Lincoln on Monday morning, with light winds, decreasing the fire threat.

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Lancaster County wildfires caused untold damage,
but area farmers prevented more, sheriff says

KRAMER — Though the full extent of the damage caused by a pair of Sunday wildfires in southern Lancaster County remained unclear Monday, officials emphasized that the quick actions of scores of firefighters and area farmers prevented further devastation. The fires — one near Firth and the other surrounding the Olive Creek State Recreation Area — threatened residents and their possessions for much of Sunday afternoon, injuring two firefighters, destroying at least three homes and prompting evacuation orders that lasted into Monday. Fire map #13274
"Farmers in the area did a great job of, on their own, getting into tractors, getting their discs out and creating firebreaks around residences in that area," Sheriff Terry Wagner said at a Monday morning news conference, where he appeared alongside representatives from the county board, the county engineers office and the Lincoln-Lancaster County Emergency Management Agency.

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Fire that spread into Lancaster County was accidental, State Fire Marshal says

LANCASTER COUNTY, Neb. (KOLN) - A wildfire that burned in Lancaster County on Sunday was ruled accidental, according to the Nebraska State Fire Marshal Agency. Chief Investigator Adam Matzner said the fire that started at SW 86th/W Apple Road in Gage County and then spread into Lancaster County was sparked by someone “shredding on a property.” “The shredder was shredding weeds/grass on the property that resulted in the accidental ignition of weeds/grass,” Matzner said in a statement. That was the only fire the State Fire Marshal’s Office was called to investigate. The number of acres that burned is still unknown. Five structures including three homes were destroyed by the fire. Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner said he couldn’t recall a wildfire of this magnitude in the county and was appreciative of everyone who stepped up to help out.

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Wildfire hot spots rekindle, destroying second barn and equipment at Hallam farm

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - Wildfire flames rekindled at a farm in southwest Lancaster County, destroying more than $12,000 in equipment, according to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office. Wednesday night around 10 p.m., deputies and firefighters were called to a farm off SW 100th St and W Princeton Road, in Hallam, for a fire. According to LSO, the fire was a rekindling of the wildfire flames from Sunday and this property had already lost a barn during that fire. Deputies explained that a three-sided barn was fully engulfed and the barn, a grain wagon, as well as lumber were all destroyed in the rekindling of the wildfire.

The total loss is estimated to be roughly $12,600 in damage, according to deputies. While the wildfires had been considered ‘contained’, LSO said there are still hot spots that are rekindling and soot is gathered in the ditches. Deputies said they do not believe the rekindling of the fires is suspicious.