Wildfire burns over 3,700 acres near Nebraska’s western border
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Firefighters are battling another thousand-acre blaze in western Nebraska.
Fire crews first responded to the “Smokey Fire” on Tuesday and have since moved more teams into the area.
As of Wednesday, the wildfire has burned over 3,700 acres of land in Banner County, according to the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency.
Unpredictable winds and a temperature inversion are currently concerning firefighters, including incident commander and Banner County Fire Chief Tim Grubbs.
“Firefighters from nearly 30 departments worked through the night to combat the Smokey Fire,” Grubbs said. “The many air assets fighting this fire along with those firefighters on the ground are working tirelessly to get this fire under control.”
Homes on Wright’s Gap Road have been put in danger, and officials have advised these residents to evacuate the area.
Wright’s Gap Road has been closed for traffic, and Grubbs is asking people to stay away from the area.
Responders are now creating back burns to build containment lines around the wildfire’s perimeter.
A variety of aircraft hailing from Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Colorado have also been deployed.
With the approval of Gov. Pete Ricketts, 12 Nebraska National Guardsmen operating two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from Lincoln have been sent to assist fire crews.
Officials say it is possible the fire will continue to grow as it consumes timber in the area, which could lead to further evacuation advisements.
A containment percentage is not yet known.
