2026 Nebraska wildfires

2026 Nebraska wildfires
Aerial view of the Morrill Fire on March 14
Statistics
Total area930,000 acres (376,358 ha)
← 2025

The 2026 Nebraska wildfires are a series of active wildfires currently ongoing in Nebraska.

Background

While "fire season" varies every year in Nebraska, most wildfires occur in between February and April. However, there is an increasing fire danger in the late winter months. Fire conditions can be exacerbated by drought, strong winds, and vegetation growth. Climate change is leading to increased temperatures, lower humidity levels, and drought conditions are happening more often. Additionally, warmer temperatures and less precipitation can result in less snowmelt, further contributing to bad wildfire conditions.[1] The previous winter (2025-2026) was one of the warmest and driest on record in Nebraska, increasing the risk of wildfires.[2]

List of wildfires

The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), produced significant structural damage, or resulted in casualties.

Name County Acres Start date Containment date Notes Ref.
Road 203 Blaine, Thomas 35,892 March 12 March 25 [3][4]
Anderson Bridge Cherry 17,229 March 12 March 23 [5]
Morrill Morrill, Garden, Arthur, Keith 643,361 March 12 March 25 Caused evacuations for Lewellen and areas around Lake McConaughy. Ran approximately 70 miles in one day. Largest recorded single wildfire in modern state history as well as one of the largest in United States history. (see article) [6]
Cottonwood Dawson, Lincoln, Frontier 129,253 March 12 March 27 Caused numerous evacuations for Farnam and surrounding areas. Destroyed over 40 structures, and is the second largest recorded wildfire in state history behind only the Morill fire. [7][8][9][10][11]
Ashby Sheridan, Grant, Garden, Cherry 36,004 March 26
April 2
 Caused evacuations for Ashby and Hyannis. burned near the Morrill fire. [12][13]
Minor Grant 14,082 March 26 April 1 [14][15]
Pressey Custer 9,141 April 22 May 4 Burned north of Oconto. [16][17]
Daly McPherson 5,173 April 22 April 24 Burned 18 miles (29 km) west of Tryon. [18]
Vasa Arthur 2,100 April 22
98%
 Burning north of Keystone. Will remain at 98% containment until significant precipitation. [19]
Peterson Holt 1,000 April 22 May 6 [20][21]
Ash Pole Dawes 1,028 May 14 May 20 Burned 9 miles (14 km) southeast of Crawford. [22]
South Fork Sioux, Dawes 39,696 June 9 June 24 Jumped and closed highway 20 and burned in the Soldier Creek Wilderness along with Robinson State Park and Wilderness. Prompted evacuations and threatened the city of Crawford. [23][24][25][26][27]
Log Road Sioux 1,526 June 29 July 5 Burned near the South Fork Fire burn scar 13 miles (21 km) east-northeast of Harrison. [28][29]

References

  1. ↑ "The Great Plains now have 'wildfire years,' not seasons, as blazes start and spread earlier". Nebraska Public Media. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  2. ↑ Ourada, Jackie (April 23, 2026). "'Nothing remotely close to it': Nebraska grappling with warmest, driest drought on record". Nebraska Public Media. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Road 203 Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Snow, fire and winds cause hazardous driving conditions near Halsey area; Road 203 fire burns 36,403 acres in Nebraska Sandhills". March 13, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Anderson Bridge Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Morrill Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Cottonwood Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  8. ↑ "| InciWeb". inciweb.wildfire.gov. June 10, 2026. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Gov. Pillen, Adjutant General Strong Tour Cottonwood Fire & Visit Brady Community | Office of Governor Jim Pillen". governor.nebraska.gov. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Emergency Management says over 40 structures have been destroyed due to Cottonwood Fire in Western Nebraska; Evacuation order lifted for Jeffrey Lake residents". March 20, 2026.
  11. ↑ Ashford, Molly; Media, Nebraska Public. "Two Nebraska volunteer fire chiefs recall first days of Cottonwood Fire response". Nebraska Public Media (in Spanish). Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  12. ↑ Tillman, Tyra (March 26, 2026). "Wildfire triggers evacuation order in Grant County". KETV Omaha. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Watch Duty - Wildfire Maps & Alerts". Watch Duty. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Watch Duty - Wildfire Maps & Alerts". Watch Duty. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Fire Update: Ashby, Minor and Cottonwood - April 2, 2026 | Nebraska's Natural Resources Districts". www.nrdnet.org. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  16. ↑ Ourada, Jackie (April 23, 2026). "Pressey Fire burning 9,000 acres near Broken Bow with no containment". Nebraska Public Media. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Pressey Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Daly Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Vasa Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Peterson Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Peterson - Wildfire and Smoke Map". data.oakridger.com. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Ash Pole Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  23. ↑ Ward, Andrew (June 10, 2026). "South Fork Fire closes Highway 20 in western Nebraska". KLKN-TV. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Watch Duty - Wildfire Maps & Alerts". Watch Duty. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  25. ↑ Annonen, Noelle; Reporter, Multimedia. "Governor dispatches state National Guard to 9,000-acre wildfire in Nebraska Panhandle". Nebraska Public Media. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Evacuations issued in Western Nebraska as wildfire expands". KETV. June 11, 2026. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  27. ↑ "South Fork Fire burns 28,000 acres, now 7% contained". June 12, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Log Road Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Log Road Fire near South Fork Fire Site Grows to 1,000 Acres". KRVN. KNEB. June 30, 2026. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
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