As wildfires continue to burn across western Nebraska, the Nebraska Forest Service has created a new fuels crew in Scottsbluff — a direct response to the most destructive fire seasons the state has seen in recent years.
The crew will focus on fuel reduction projects like tree thinning, clearing defensible space around structures and removing dead vegetation. When wildfires break out, it will also respond alongside volunteer fire departments and state and local authorities.
"This has been the worst fire season on record in the state of Nebraska," said Benjamin Bohall, public information officer for the Nebraska Forest Service. "It became pretty apparent to us with all of the fire activity that's been happening this summer so far — that's primarily been out west. We saw it being an area of need."
The Scottsbluff crew is the second fuels crew Nebraska Forest Service has established. The first, based in the Brown and Rock counties area near Ainsworth, was created in response to growing wildfire activity and funded through a federal Community Wildfire Defense Grant. That crew responded to the South Fork Fire last week, helping dig containment lines in the Pine Ridge.
The South Fork Fire is the latest in a string of massive blazes that have torn through Nebraska this year. The Morrill Fire burned more than 643,000 acres in western Nebraska earlier this spring — the largest wildfire in state history — while the Cottonwood Fire burned more than 129,000 acres in central Nebraska around the same time.
Overall, more than 1 million acres have burned in the state this year.
"This latest one [fuels crew] that we've just established in Scottsbluff is a direct response to what we've been seeing that spring and summer," Bohall said.
The Scottsbluff crew will also be funded through federal wildfire defense grants. Nebraska Forest Service is looking to fill 10 positions — a crew leader, squad bosses and crew members. Applicants with a wildland firefighter certification — known as a red card — are preferred but not required. Positions are full time at 40 hours a week with an initial two-year term that may be extended depending on funding.
"When these projects are done proactively, it alleviates wildfires essentially," Bohall said.
There is no application deadline — positions will be filled on a rolling basis. Bohall said applications are already coming in and encouraged people to apply soon.
"The more folks that we can get qualified and get out there with these wildfires, the better," he said.
Interested applicants can apply online.