Gov. Pillen Tours Wildfires, Provides Update on Operations

Gov. Pillen Tours Wildfires, Provides Update on Operations

RELEASE DATE: Mar 14, 2026

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Kevin J. Hynes, Nebraska National Guard, (402) 309-8390

Katrina Cerveny, NEMA, (402) 326-3179

KEITH COUNTY, NE -- Today, Governor Jim Pillen provided an update on operations following an aerial tour of wildfires burning across Nebraska. He was joined in the briefing at the Keith County Fairgrounds by U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts and U.S. Representative Adrian Smith. Lt. Colonel Scott Henrickson, chief of the joint staff for the Nebraska National Guard also spoke, providing an update on personnel and equipment deployed by the Nebraska National Guard to support local firefighters

In total, three of the state's largest wildfires have damaged around 600,000 acres. Gov. Pillen spoke specifically about impacts resulting from the Morrill County Fire, which has now consumed 460,000 acres and the Lincoln County (Cottonwood Fire) near Gothenburg, which has burned 100,000 acres. The Road 203 Fire near Halsey has burned 40,000 acres.

Gov. Pillen emphasized that the state is taking a proactive approach to enlisting additional resources for fire suppression and providing assistance to community volunteer firefighters, who have been working around the clock. Earlier today, he called the mayors of Omaha, Lincoln and Columbus to see what fire personnel and equipment they would be able to provide. He also indicated he would contact other mayors and nearby states like Iowa, to see what assistance they could lend.

"This is a fight from the river to Harrison, and I'm really excited that we're getting people deployed to help our volunteer firefighters," he added.

The Nebraska National Guard has deployed 29 airmen and soldiers to assist with firefighting efforts in central and western Nebraska. That includes a ground firefighting hand crew, which is working shoulder to shoulder with local fire teams. Two Nebraska Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters equipped with Bambi buckets have also been flown to the area for aerial firefighting support.

"We are working to get more resources into the state, but as we heard, there are multiple fires across multiple states," said Lt. Col. Henrickson. "We are still working to see what is available and of course, bring that up in a unified effort here with the local emergency management team as well as our Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)."

NEMA has requested and received approval from FEMA for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG), which is designed to help support efforts to mitigate, manage, and control fires on public or private forests or grasslands. That assistance may help recover some of the costs associated with the state's ongoing fire response.

Gov. Pillen also mentioned ongoing assistance from the Nebraska Department of Transportation which is providing road graders in order to create necessary roadblocks to prevent the spread of flames.

During the news conference, the Governor reiterated a message shared previously - the need to heed any locally-issued evacuation orders. Officials yesterday confirmed one fire-related fatality.

"I think it's important that all Nebraskans pray. The circumstances have not changed. Yesterday was one of the toughest days, and through the night, that we've probably ever experienced in our state," said Gov. Pillen. "Tomorrow, the winds are supposed to be extraordinary."

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