After wet spring, hot start to summer, wildfire risk increases in eastern Nebraska

BEATRICE, Neb. - Eastern Nebraska fire departments are staying on high alert for what is mainly a western Nebraska problem.

With a wet spring, plus a mostly hot and dry start to the summer, wildfire risk is increasing in the eastern half of the state. Brian Daake is the Fire Chief for the City of Beatrice, and he explained the things that contribute to a wildfire igniting.

"A lot of it depends on the weather," Daake said. "We haven't had rain for awhile, so we're in the early stages of drought,  and what goes into a fire is high heat, high winds, and low humidity."

Most of the state’s wildfires ignite in western Nebraska, and Daake said there’s a reason for that.

"We're greener here. We get most of our precipitation in the spring with the rains," Daake said. "Western Nebraska has different foliage, little more arid, and most of their moisture comes in the form of snow."

Much of central and eastern Nebraska has faced a spell of severe weather, bringing another potential cause of wildfire: lightning.

"There's always that probability," Daake said. "But, 80% of wildfires are started by human beings, but there's a;ways a chance of that."

That 80% can easily be avoided. On a windy day like today, even a simple cigarette bud can lead to disaster.

"If you're a smoker, dispose of your smoking material properly," Daake said. "Be careful using campfires, even catalytic converters, they've been known to start both car fires and grass fires at the same time."

Daake also warns people of where these fires can start.

"Grass fires along the side of the road are where they usually start, but they spread into fields and forest areas."