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Total acres burned in Nebraska from April wildfires approach 150,000

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More than 140,000 acres of agricultural land have burned in a Western Corn Belt state from wildfires since the beginning of April.

The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency says fires in more than 15 counties were reported in different areas of the state with many occurring simultaneously.

The agency says the two largest fires combined to burn nearly 80,000 acres in Furnas and Gosper Counties.

The Road 739 fire burned 35,000 acres and started on April 7.  The Road 702 fire charred 42,000 acres and began two weeks later and is nearly contained.

Courtesy of NEMA – Updated containment of 702 fire on April 28, 2022

Climatologist Eric Snodgrass with Nutrien Ag Solutions tells Brownfield elevated fire risks could persist for several weeks. “The state is at risk until the fuel is gone. And, the thing is, that the fuel has been there for awhile. We’ve had dry vegetation in some places since October. Any dry grassland, anything left in the field that can serve as fuel. Until something green is there, this is going to be the case.”

A fire in Blaine County Northwest Nebraska burned 30,000 acres and dairy farm near Rising City in Eastern Nebraska lost one hay barn, 100 calves and 900 calving hutches.

NEMA says other fires were reported in Elsie, Cheyenne, Deuel, Scotts Bluff and Burt Counties. 

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