Pillen issues burn ban as wildfire continues to rage in northern Nebraska

Gov. Jim Pillen on Wednesday issued a statewide burn ban two days after a prescribed burn got out of control, leading to a large wildfire in northern Nebraska.

At a Wednesday afternoon press conference, Pillen and other officials said the Plum Creek Fire near Ainsworth had burned about 6,600 acres with zero percent containment, based on estimates from the air. That’s about one-quarter of previous estimates from on the ground.

The fire started Monday after a local landowner, in conjunction with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, did a prescribed burn, even though an area just a few miles south was under a red flag warning at the time, meaning there was a high fire danger.

“So just a perfect example, there should not have been a burn,” Pillen said. “I’m not being a Monday morning quarterback, just should not have been a burn yesterday or two days ago. It’s that simple.”

He said conditions are too dry right now for any burning anywhere in the state.

Firefighters were able to get the fire about 30% contained by Tuesday night, but the fire expanded and crews had lost containment by Wednesday morning.

Strong winds and warm weather Wednesday made containing the fire a challenge, according to a Facebook post on the Brown and Rock County Emergency Management page.

However, no injuries have been reported and no evacuations have been ordered, Cerveny said.

Fire officials are asking people to stay away from the fire area as crews work to contain the flames.

More than 50 volunteer departments from several parts of the state are helping fight the fire, as are more than two dozen National Guard members. Planes and helicopters also are being used to dump water on the fire.

Officials are hoping the weather will provide them a break. There’s a 60% chance of showers overnight Wednesday and an 80% chance of rain on Thursday in Brown County, where the fire is burning.