A large wildfire started after midnight on Thursday, March 26 approximately 5 miles south of the community of Hyannis in Grant County. Due to high winds, the Minor Fire moved approximately 13 miles southward and nearly entered Arthur County.
The Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1 (CIMT1) mobilized initial-attack resources from the nearby Morrill and Cottonwood Fires. They actively engaged the fire and assisted local volunteer fire departments and the Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Wildland Incident Response and Assistance Team. At Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen’s request, Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team (CIMT) 1 is now assisting with both the Ashby and nearby Minor Fire.
Additional engines and other resources have been ordered. Aerial resources have been used to suppress the fire. The incident has additional initial-attack groups staged and ready to immediately respond to requests from local or state officials to assist with the initial suppression of any other new fires that may start. The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) at the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has been and remains fully operational to coordinate with Rocky Mountain CIMT 1.
A Temporary Flight Restriction is in effect over the Ashby and Minor Fires; information is available at tfr.faa.gov. Incident aircraft are actively engaged in firefighting support. Adhering to the flight restriction and reducing aerial traffic around all fires keeps our air crews safe. If you fly, we can’t!
On Friday, March 13, Governor Jim Pillen is issued a statewide burn ban, to help reduce the potential for additional wildfires in Nebraska. Dry and windy conditions have caused the spread of significant fires in the central and western parts of the state. On March 26, the Governor’s executive order was extended through April 10, 2026.
Please avoid the fire area and do not interfere with firefighters while they are working. When travelling, please watch for firefighters and their vehicles as they operate along roadsides.
You can find information on resources available to farmers and ranchers impacted by the Nebraska wildfires by clicking on the following blue link Help. Additional information will be added when available. If you’d like to suggest an addition of a resource, please email agr.webmaster@nebraska.gov.
Please visit this link for additional information sources.
