Gov. Pillen issues statewide burn ban in Nebraska as Plum Creek Fire is 0% contained

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Gov. Jim Pillen hosted a press conference Wednesday as the Plum Creek Fire raged in north-central Nebraska.

The fire has burned around 7,000 acres of land in Brown County. That number is lower than the previous estimate.

But it has killed dozens of cattle and destroyed a cabin.

It is currently 0% contained, authorities said.

More than 50 volunteer fire departments have helped fight the blaze.

Two airplanes from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and two helicopters from the Nebraska Army National Guard have been dropping water on the fire.

The governor has also authorized the deployment of 29 soldiers and airmen in the National Guard.

Pillen also signed an executive order issuing a statewide burn ban, which prohibits both burn permits and prescribed burns.

The ban will expire at midnight Wednesday.

The Plum Creek Fire started as a controlled burn but then escaped its boundaries.