A transition in incident management is set to take place Saturday evening as firefighting efforts continue across several major wildfires in western Nebraska.
Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1 will transfer command of the Ashby, Minor and Cottonwood fires to Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 2 at 6 p.m. MDT. Officials said the incoming team will continue operations under the direction of the State of Nebraska, with daily updates and public information remaining available.
At the same time, responsibility for the Morrill Fire will shift from the incident management team back to local fire departments. The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency will handle public information related to that fire moving forward.
Fire crews made significant progress Friday as cooler, calmer weather conditions helped reduce fire activity. Firefighters were able to extinguish hotspots and prevent additional growth on both the Ashby and Minor fires without the need for aerial support.
Despite that progress, fire officials warn that conditions could worsen Saturday. A statewide Red Flag Warning is in effect from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. MDT, with temperatures near 80 degrees, humidity as low as 10 percent and strong southerly winds. Under those conditions, new fires could spread rapidly through dry vegetation.
The Cottonwood Fire has reached 100 percent containment, though crews remain on scene to mop up lingering hotspots. Officials emphasized that full containment does not mean the fire is completely extinguished.
The Morrill Fire, which burned 642,029 acres, is also fully contained. Crews will continue to patrol the area for flare-ups while working to preserve unburned grass and vegetation. Resources assigned to the Morrill Fire may be redirected to assist with other fires if needed.
As of Saturday morning, the Ashby Fire has burned 36,193 acres and is 46 percent contained, while the Minor Fire has burned 13,805 acres and is 7 percent contained. Both fires remain staffed with engine crews, and National Guard Black Hawk helicopters are available if conditions require aerial response.
A temporary flight restriction remains in place over the Ashby and Minor fires to ensure the safety of firefighting aircraft.
In a video update Saturday morning, Operations Section Chief Rob Powell said the transition between teams is expected to be smooth.
“The new team … will take command of these fires at 1800 today,” Powell said. “It should be seamless.”
Powell also noted the scale of wildfire activity both locally and nationally.
“To date … there’s been 1.5 million acres burned in the United States,” he said. “Our team in the state of Nebraska has been managing 858,000 acres of that total.”
Officials are urging residents to remain vigilant, avoid activities that could spark fires and report any new fire immediately by calling 911.