The Plum Creek wildfire near Ainsworth, which has burned more than 6,600 acres, was 40% contained as of Thursday morning thanks to rain and additional state resources.
Officials said they were confident the fire would be more contained by the end of the day Thursday.
The fire started Monday after a local landowner, in conjunction with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, conducted 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,” Gov Jim Pillen said at a Wednesday news conference. “I’m not being a Monday morning quarterback, just should not have been a burn yesterday or two days ago. It’s that simple.”
Pillen said conditions are too dry right now for any burning anywhere in the state, which is why he issued a statewide burn ban Wednesday. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission on Thursday also issued a ban on campfires in all state parks and recreation areas.
As of Thursday, about 90% of Nebraska was in at least moderate drought conditions, while nearly 35% was in severe drought.
Firefighters were able to get the fire about 30% contained by Tuesday night, but it 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.
No injuries have been reported and no evacuations have been ordered, but eight utility poles and one non-primary residence were destroyed, according to Katrina Cerveny, a spokesperson for the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency.
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.
The National Guard has made over 70 water drops, Cerveny said.
Ainsworth Fire Chief Brad Filala said in a news update Thursday that he is thankful for the community's support and the rain and humidity that helped firefighters make progress on fighting the fire.
Officials are hoping the weather later this week will provide them a break. Ainsworth had a 50% chance of showers on Thursday afternoon and a chance for a light showers this weekend.