The burn scar of the Cottonwood Fire near Road 754 north of Farnam in southwest Dawson County, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
GOTHENBURG — The Cottonwood Fire complex has burned over 120,000 acres in central Nebraska; area fire department were on scene throughout the weekend battling the spread of the blaze.
The Cottonwood Fire started on Thursday, March 12 near Maxwell and Brady and owing to strong winds and ongoing drought conditions, spread southwest from Lincoln County into southwest Dawson County.
The community of Farnam was threatened by the fire and was ordered to evacuate on Thursday night, with the order finally being rescinded late Friday morning.
As Sunday, the fire had burned 121,232 acres according to the U.S. Wildlife Map. In total, three of the state’s largest wildfires have burned around 600,000 acres.
The Morrill County Fire, which has now consumed 460,000 acres and the Lincoln County (Cottonwood Fire) near Gothenburg, which has burned 100,000 acres. The Road 203 Fire near Halsey has burned 40,000 acres, according to Governor Jim Pillen.
Over 92 fire departments and task‑force units were deployed to the Cottonwood Fire, and over 82 deployed to the Morrill Fire Nebraska, including rural, city, and volunteer agencies from every corner of the state.
Area fire departments have been working on the Cottonwood Fire complex since Thursday.
Jason Whalen, Deputy Fire Chief of the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department, said that the Buffalo County task force has been responding to the Cottonwood Fire with their own units.
Whalen said that Buffalo County community fire departments have responded with grass rigs and tankers, one or two at a time, to ensure one department isn’t spread too thin.
Whalen said that KVFD units were operating near the Brady area over the weekend. He described the situation as challenging and firefighters as exhausted after their shifts.
Bo Berry, Fire Chief of the Lexington Volunteer Fire Department, said that crews from Lexington were working essentially non-stop in shifts from Thursday night to Sunday evening.
Berry said they first provided mutual aid to Maxwell at 6 p.m. on Thursday. Since then, “we have had crews on the ground continuously,” he said. Lexington crews also aided Cozad after the fire spread near the Midway Lake region. Berry said crews worked in 12-hour shifts over the weekend.
Berry said after his 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. shift on Sunday, he felt confident about the containment on the southeast side of the fire. He said the containment percentage should increase. Berry noted the fire was tested on Sunday with winds up to 60 mph.
“I think the threat of the fire moving (southeast) has been diminished,” Berry said. He did note that there could still be problems on the northwest side of the complex near Maxwell, where there are more canyons with cedar trees.
Berry said that this fire has proved the necessity for the control of the spread of cedar trees, as they are highly flammable and can aid in the spread of wildfires.
When the trees are burned by a fire, the sap within the tree heats up and then bursts out, which can spread embers and spread the fire to a wider area.
Berry praised the work of fire departments from the local area and from across the state who helped to fight the fire. He noted Columbus, Sutton and Indianola units were on scene at the Cottonwood fire.
Berry also said the “quality of the help” from the farmers, ranchers and property owners in the area has been tremendous. They have helped keep water supplied to the firefighters throughout the weekend.
The Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1 (CIMT1) assumed management of the Cottonwood and Morrill fires on Sunday.
“When wildfires increase in complexity and require more resources, CIMTs are ordered to help manage and support the incident. The Rocky Mountain CIMT1 is comprised of local, state and federal personnel largely from Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming,” per a CIMT release.
The containment of the Cottonwood Fire was ongoing as of Monday, March 16.
A statewide burn ban has been put in place until March 27 by Gov. Pillen. Area fire department stress to residents to cease any activities that could cause a fire.
