Evacuations Issued as Wildfires Burn Across Nebraska During Red Flag Conditions Firefighters in Nebraska faced challenges on Thursday as they fought against multiple rapidly spreading wildfires fueled by strong winds, dry vegetation, and hazardous fire weather conditions. Grass fires broke out across several regions, including central Nebraska, the Sandhills, southeast Nebraska, and the Nebraska Panhandle, prompting evacuations, road closures, and large-scale emergency responses from fire departments, emergency managers, and volunteer crews. One significant fire burned in northern Gage County near Beatrice, where flames forced the closure of U.S. Highway 77 for several hours. The fire started near West Hickory Road and spread quickly across fields due to strong winds, eventually crossing the highway. Multiple fire departments joined efforts to contain the blaze and protect nearby structures. Another fire erupted in Jefferson County near Fairbury, where rural grass fires spread rapidly under the influence of strong winds. In central Nebraska, a fast-moving grass fire near Cottonwood Road and South Government Pocket Road in Lincoln County threatened rural homes. Strong winds pushed flames across open fields, leading to evacuation orders for residents. Additional fires were reported in southwest Lancaster County near Denton and Crete, where evacuations were issued as crews battled multiple grass fires. Further west, a wildfire in the Nebraska Panhandle spread from Morrill County into Garden County, prompting evacuations as flames moved through dry grasslands. Fires also threatened communities in the Nebraska Sandhills, including Dunning and Halsey in Blaine and Thomas counties.#nebraska #firefighters #nebraska_panhandle #nebraska_sandhills #red_flag_warnings
