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LEADER KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN AT TEN. JUST IN THE MONTH OF MARCH ALONE, WE MANAGED TO BURN THIS. AT THAT POINT IT WAS OVER EIGHT. JUST OVER 800,000 ACRES. I THINK WE ARE NOW UP TO ABOUT 870,000 ACRES THAT WE BURNED. CORNHUSKER EXTENSION. SINCE THE WILDFIRES IN NEBRASKA HAVE BURNED MORE ACRES IN ONE MONTH THAN ANY YEAR OVER THE LAST 14 YEARS. THANKS FOR JOINING US. I’M BILL SCHAMMERT. I’M JULIE CORNELL. FIREFIGHTERS MADE MAJOR PROGRESS ON TWO FIRES, THE ASHBY AND MINOR FIRES HAVE BURNED MORE THAN 64,000 ACRES COMBINED. THAT’S THE SIZE OF LINCOLN. BUT NEW FIRES ALSO SPARKED SOUTH OF THE METRO. KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN’S BETH CARLSON WENT TO PERU AND SPOKE TO FIREFIGHTERS ON WHAT THEY’RE SEEING. JULIE. THAT’S RIGHT. SEVERAL WILDFIRES IN THE PAST MONTH HAVE BEEN CONTAINED BECAUSE OF THE NONSTOP VOLUNTEER FIRE CREWS THAT ARE RESPONDING. WE SPOKE TO FIREFIGHTERS TODAY ON WHAT’S CAUSING SPARKS. IT’S THE LATEST OF SEVERAL FIRES ACROSS NEBRASKA. THIS VIDEO TAKEN IN PERU RIGHT NOW ANYWHERE, I IN NEBRASKA AND THE ENTIRE MIDWEST IS AN ISSUE. PERU VOLUNTEER FIRE CHIEF BRETT LUTMAN SAYS HIS CREW WORKED QUICKLY TO CONTAIN THE CURRY TIMBER FIRE HAD RESIDENCES UP ABOVE ON THE TOP OF THE BLUFF. WE WERE TRYING TO MAKE SURE DIDN’T GET TO STATE INCIDENT RESPONSE CREWS ARE CURRENTLY SPREAD OUT ACROSS NEBRASKA TO GIVE THEM QUICKER ACCESS TO POP UP FIRES. IT’S GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. I’VE NEVER SEEN SOME OF THESE FUEL LINES OR FIRE LINES AS LONG AS THEY’VE EVER BEEN, SO THAT’S SOMETHING NEW TO ME. GORDON VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER CODY ROEHRIG HAS WORKED TO CONTAIN SEVERAL FIRES IN WESTERN NEBRASKA, INCLUDING THE HISTORIC MORRILL FIRE AND NOW THE ASHBY FIRE. SO WITH LAST YEAR’S FUEL LOAD NOT EXPIRING AND BEING COMING UP WITH THE GREEN, IT’S GOING TO IMPACT A LOT OF THIS AREA VERY SIGNIFICANTLY. NEBRASKA STATE AGRICULTURAL METEOROLOGIST ERIC HUNT SAYS THE RECORD HIGH TEMPS AND LACK OF MOISTURE COULD CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM FOR FIREFIGHTERS AND FOR FARMERS. I DON’T THINK SOME PARTS OF SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA HAVE ACTUALLY HAD MEASURABLE MOISTURE IN OVER TWO MONTHS, AND I’M NOT SURE THAT SOME PARTS OF THE PANHANDLE HAVE HAD MORE THAN A QUARTER INCH IN A DAY SINCE SEPTEMBER, HE SAYS. IT’S THE DRIEST WINTER ON RECORD FOR SOME PARTS OF THE STATE. WE ARE CERTAINLY IN UNCHARTERED TERRITORY, AT LEAST IN MODERN TIMES NOW. AS OF TODAY, THE ASHBY AND MINOR FIRES ARE 83 AND 85% CONTAINED RESPECTFULLY, AND THE CURRY TIMBER FIRE IN PER
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Mutual aid crews returning home after battling wildfire near Peru, Nebraska
There are wildfires to the west and south of the Omaha metro. Crews are working to keep the flames contained so fewer people have to leave their homes behind. Over the weekend, the Curry Timber Fire in Peru, Nebraska, burned more than 133 acres. Fire crews are now monitoring hot spots in the area. ‘I cried, just cried’: New Ashby and Minor wildfires threaten homes and farmland in central NebraskaOn Friday, the Peru Volunteer Fire Department requested mutual aid from several nearby crews. Firefighters said the weekend’s high winds and dry conditions caused the fire to grow quickly.The Nemaha County Emergency Management reported 170 responders, and more than 25 departments were on site. The state’s incident management crews sent 20 hand crews to assist.After making major progress, all crews are returning home, and the Peru Volunteer Fire Department is monitoring the area.Officials are reporting 65% containment. It’s one of several fires that crews responded to across the state this weekend.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
There are wildfires to the west and south of the Omaha metro.
Crews are working to keep the flames contained so fewer people have to leave their homes behind.
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Over the weekend, the Curry Timber Fire in Peru, Nebraska, burned more than 133 acres. Fire crews are now monitoring hot spots in the area.
‘I cried, just cried’: New Ashby and Minor wildfires threaten homes and farmland in central Nebraska
On Friday, the Peru Volunteer Fire Department requested mutual aid from several nearby crews. Firefighters said the weekend’s high winds and dry conditions caused the fire to grow quickly.
The Nemaha County Emergency Management reported 170 responders, and more than 25 departments were on site.
The state’s incident management crews sent 20 hand crews to assist.
After making major progress, all crews are returning home, and the Peru Volunteer Fire Department is monitoring the area.
Officials are reporting 65% containment. It’s one of several fires that crews responded to across the state this weekend.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
