2026 Nebraska wildfires
| 2026 Nebraska wildfires | |
|---|---|
Aerial view of the Morrill Fire on March 14 | |
| Season | |
← 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]
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 | 35,912 | March 12 | [2] | ||
| Anderson Bridge | Cherry | 17,400 | March 12 | [3] | ||
| Morrill | Morrill, Garden, Arthur, Keith | 643,074 | March 12 | Caused evacuations for Lewellen and areas around Lake McConaughy. Ran over 100 miles in one day. Largest recorded single wildfire in modern state history. | [4] | |
| Cottonwood | Dawson, Lincoln | 128,192 | March 12 | Caused evacuations for Farnam and surrounding areas. Second largest recorded wildfire in state history. | [5] |
References
- ^ "The Great Plains now have 'wildfire years,' not seasons, as blazes start and spread earlier". Nebraska Public Media. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
- ^ "Road 203 Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
- ^ "Anderson Bridge Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
- ^ "Morrill Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
- ^ "Cottonwood Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved March 12, 2026.