Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen issued a statewide fire ban on Wednesday afternoon during a press conference held at the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) operations center. The ban includes all forms of burning, including burn permits and prescribed burns.
Before the executive order for a fire ban as well as an emergency declaration were made by the governor, representatives ranging from groups such as emergency management to the Nebraska Cattlemen spoke in favor of a ban.
The Plum Creek Fire, currently taking place in north central Nebraska near Johnstown was the center of a lot of discussion during the press conference as it commands the most attention at the moment due to its size. Pillen said that the fire began from a prescribed burn where conditions changed allowing the fire to escape control. As reported by KBRB Radio, the Ainsworth fire chief said that planes and helicopters were assisting with the blaze and state resources were expected to arrive Wednesday.
Pillen went on to say that nobody is criticizing the decision that was made to have the burn using the information available at the time, but that action is being taken now to lower the chance of more problems.
The use of better technology has given a better estimate putting the ‘acres burned’ total at around 7,000 acres rather than more than 20,000 as previously reported. The Plum Creek Fire was confirmed as still 0% contained during the press conference.
Pillen thanked Senator Tanya Storer for being present for the press conference, as her district has seen a large number of fires in the recent past. He closed by encouraging everyone in Nebraska to do all they can to avoid dangerous fire-starting sparks by working carefully in the field and greasing every bearing possible.
No timetable was given for an end to the statewide ban.
