Over 40,000 acres burned so far in southwest Nebraska fire
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Multiple fire crews are still battling a wildfire that has burned over 40,000 acres east of McCook since Friday.
Nebraska Emergency Management Agency shared an update on the Road 702 fire on Monday.
The fire has spread to parts of Red Willow, Furnas and Frontier Counties and remains at 0% containment, according to the agency.
The threat of fire growth continues as firefighters battle hotspots in brushy draws and near structures, NEMA says.
They are asking people to continue to avoid the area and use extreme caution when driving in areas with reduced visibility due to smoke and dust.
The Multi-Mission Aircraft from Colorado was able to map the fire area. As of Sunday, 41,155 acres have been burned.
See also: Road 702 Fire map
Crews on the west side of the fire will continue to secure the line by battling hotspots. They are also working to cool down areas of heat in wooded areas.
Crews on the east side of the fire will continue to secure the line by containing unburned islands within the fire perimeter. They plan to use dozers to help remove trees so crews can work safely to contain the area, the agency says.
The Nebraska State Patrol shared drone video and photos of the Road 702 wildfire.
Work continues on the Road 702 fire today. NSP drones are still being used to identify hotspots, which are then doused by @NENationalGuard teams and firefighters on the ground. Excellent communication between agencies and phenomenal local support.
Proud to be part of this team. pic.twitter.com/Fmyv0vOc01
— Nebraska State Patrol (@NEStatePatrol) April 25, 2022
