Pillen, officials update on containment, livestock in fire briefing

UPDATE, March 16 (9:00 pm) — For the first time since the wildfire started on Thursday, there is containment on the Morrill Fire: 18% and Cottonwood fire is now 40% contained in Nebraska.

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, along with state emergency officials, provided an update Monday on the wildfires burning across western Nebraska.

During a briefing in Lincoln, officials confirmed the Morrill Fire remained 0% contained as of Monday afternoon.The most active area of the fire is currently within a Wildlife Management Area north of Lake McConaughy. Officials said the area contains a large population of cottonwood trees, which can fall quickly after being burned.

Wildfires have scorched more than 700,000 acres across western Nebraska. The Morrill Fire — burning in Arthur, Keith, Garden and Morrill counties — has consumed more than 570,000 acres, making it the largest wildfire in state history.

Officials also noted the area impacted by the Morrill Fire serves as grazing land for approximately 35,000 cattle.

"We're in an area where cows far outnumber families," Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Sherry Vinton said. "As a rancher myself, I can tell you that the volunteer fire fighters who fought fires are exhausted. And they're very grateful to all of those who have come to our aid and they're grateful to each state agency that has kept working throughout the weekend."

Gov. Pillen said he flew over the fires during the weekend and noted that while some farmsteads sustained damage, particularly in the Sandhills, conditions could have been far worse.

"There were lots of areas where momma cows were moving and we saw very little hay being burned," Pillen said. "All the water tanks were spared, all the ranches and homes and corrals were spared. There was one space where the fire went right up to it, but it was moving so fast it couldn't burn it."

Pillen concluded his remarks by encouraging Nebraskans to remain hopeful as firefighters continue working to contain the fires.

"Mother nature is throwing a doozy at us, but i'll bet the farm that we win and we win big time," Pillen said.