Three major wildfires, including the largest one in Nebraska history, have burned around 600,000 acres of land in central and western Nebraska and remained 0% contained on Sunday after killing one person, officials said.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen has declared a state of emergency, freeing up additional resources to battle the blazes. Pillen has also deployed Nebraska National Guard troops to assist local firefighters.
Two Nebraska Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters are also working to fight the blazes, officials said.
The “Morrill Fire,” pictured here, March 15, 2026, has burned more than 460,000 acres in Morrill and Arthur counties, Nebraska, authorities said.
Nebraska Forest Service
The Morrill Fire has consumed more than 460,000 acres across Morrill, Arthur and Keith counties, making it the biggest wildfire in Nebraska history, officials said. The fire killed one person on Thursday in Arthur County, Pillen said at a news conference on Saturday.
The Cottonwood Fire has burned about 100,000 acres in Dawson County near the city of Gothenberg, Nebraska state officials said, while the third fire burning is the Road 203 Fire in Blaine and Thomas counties, near the village of Halsey, which has burned more than 40,000 acres, state officials said.
All of the fires were 0% contained as of Sunday, officials said.
A cross-country storm bringing snow to other parts of the Midwest on Sunday is expected to bring dry and windy conditions to the areas where the fires are burning, making the battle even more of a challenge for firefighters.
An aerial image taken, March 13, 2026, of a wildfire burning in Dawson County, Nebraska.
Nebraska State Police Troop D
“The winds are supposed to be extraordinary,” Gov. Pillen said at Saturday’s news conference.
Pillen called on mayors of Nebraska’s largest cities, Omaha and Lincoln, to provide additional personnel and equipment. The governor said he also would contact nearby states, including Iowa, to request help.
Both the Lincoln and Omaha fire departments said they are sending personnel and equipment to battle the blazes.
“Our hearts go out to the residents of Keith County,” said Omaha Mayor John Ewing Jr., according to Omaha ABC affiliate KETV. “Omaha stands ready to support our neighbors. By deploying these resources, we are providing critical relief to local crews while ensuring that our own city remains fully protected and staffed for local emergencies.”
After taking a helicopter tour on Saturday of the areas where the fires are burning, Gov. Pillen said, “I think it’s important that all Nebraskans pray.”
