Nebraska wildfire operations wind down with full containment of six major fires

Click here for details on multiple Nebraska wildfires that started April 22, 2026.

Firefighters contained the last major fire in western Nebraska on Thursday, April 2. The Ashby Fire, which burned 36,004 acres in western Nebraska, was fully contained, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

All six major fires in western Nebraska are 100% contained.

Rocky Mountain CIMT 2 will transfer management responsibility for the Ashby, Minor and Cottonwood fires to local volunteer fire departments on Sunday. It will also take over the initial and ongoing suppression of any new fires that may start.

The six initial-attack groups prepositioned in communities across the state will demobilize in phases over the next few days.

The Nebraska National Guard’s two Black Hawk helicopters will remain in Ogallala on Friday and assist the initial-attack groups if needed. On Saturday morning, they will return to their base in Lincoln.

After Sunday, the Nebraska National Guard will have one flight crew on advanced readiness to expedite response if necessary. In addition, a Nebraska single-engine air tanker is stationed in Ainsworth to support local firefighters.

Rocky Mountain CIMT 2 said this will be the last fire update unless it is delegated authority by the State of Nebraska to manage a new wildfire.

Active fires

• Morrill Fire — Includes Keith, Arthur, Grant, Garden and Morrill Counties. The fire has burned 642,029 acres, making it the largest wildfire in state history. Gov. Jim Pillen said the fire was caused by an electrical fire sparked by high winds. One person has died as a result of this fire — 86-year-old Rose White of Arthur. The Morrill Fire is 100% contained.
• Lincoln County Fire (Cottonwood Fire) — South of I-80, near Brady and Gothenburg. The cause of this fire is still under investigation. This fire has burned 129,253 acres and is 100% contained. Evacuation orders have been lifted.
• Road 203 Fire — South of the communities of Halsey and Dunning within the Nebraska National Forest. The fire is in Thomas, Custer, Logan and Blaine Counties. Containment is at 100%. The fire has burned 35,892 acres. Three unoccupied firefighting vehicles were burned and destroyed by fire. No one was injured.
• Anderson Bridge Fire — West of Valentine; the fire is 100% contained and 17,229 acres have burned according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
• Ashby Fire — South of Ashby in Grant County. The fire has burned 36,004 acres and is 100% contained. Evacuation orders have been lifted.
• Minor Fire — South of Hyannis in Grant County. The fire has burned 14,082 acres and is 100% contained. Evacuation orders have been lifted.

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Officials say people who want to support wildfire relief can contribute through the following organizations:

• Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighters Association -Donations will help provide support to Nebraska’s volunteer firefighters for equipment, resources and recovery efforts.
• United Way of Western Nebraska - They have a relief fund set up and 100% of donations are going to meet needs caused by the fires.
• Nebraska Sandhills Rancher Fire Relief Fund - This fund will go to people primarily in the counties of Garden, Morrill, Arthur, Keith and Grant to assist in disaster recovery. A local grants committee will accept grant assistance applications and determine awards based on need.
• Nebraska Cattlemen Disaster Relief Fund — The Nebraska Cattlemen Disaster Relief Fund announced on Monday that they are accepting monetary donations and relief applications to assist beef cattle producers who are being impacted by fires.
• American Red Cross Nebraska Region — To support Red Cross Disaster Relief, visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767), or text REDCROSS to 90999. Donations help supply food, shelter, relief items, financial assistance, emotional support and other critical aid.
• The Salvation Army Western Nebraska Wildfire Relief — Donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $25,000 thanks to a Mutual of Omaha Foundation challenge gift—doubling the impact of each contribution. Funds support immediate needs like feeding firefighters and longer-term assistance for families impacted by the Cottonwood, Morrill, Road 203, and Anderson Bridge fires.