Fire Update: 'Close to 50 Percent' Containment of Dawes County, Nebraska Fire
By Aaron Bonderson 
, Report for America Reporter/Producer Nebraska Public Media
Sept. 20, 2021, 11:03 a.m. ·
The two fires in Nebraska’s Panhandle have burned more than 5,000 acres as of Monday.
Alyssa Sanders with the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency said efforts to control the fire have progressed in Dawes and Scotts Bluff counties.
“Our containment is estimated at 40 to 50%, closer to 50%,” she said. “We are feeling really good. The rain last night (overnight Sunday, Sep. 19) was a huge help to us, and we’re pretty confident, if things go well today that we’re going to be in a good spot moving forward.”
More than 70 firefighters from 20-plus organizations are pitching in to help extinguish the flames.
Some ranchland and state park area residents evacuated last week, but no more residents have had to leave their homes since.
The fires began last Thursday, with the largest fire starting five miles southwest of Crawford, Nebraska.