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High winds, extended drought spark wildfires in Nebraska, Kansas

Drought and high winds have sparked wildfires in a pair of Western Corn Belt states.

Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue tells Brownfield a large fire started Thursday morning in South Central Furnas County. “We’ve had ranchers texting me this morning that they’ve been trying to get their cattle out of the way to make sure they’re out of the path of the fire.”

As of Friday morning, the fire was still burning, and the village of Edison remained under a mandatory evacuation order.

He tells Brownfield weather conditions haven’t helped bring the fire under control. “This wind is relentless these last several days. If you put that on top of severe drought, this is just not what we need to see in Nebraska,” he says. “Our prayers certainty go out to those that are dealing with it to those that are dealing with it, but it’s not only dealing with it and its in Kansas and Oklahoma, too.”

The Kansas Forest Service tells Brownfield it’s been monitoring 6-10 fires this week and expects more to start because of current conditions.

McHargue says it’s too early to determine the extent of damage to agricultural property.

The National Weather Service has clocked winds at over 60 mph on Thursday.