Fire near Halsey burns nearly 36,000 acres, remains 0% contained
Officials said Monday that despite snow on the ground, heat remains in the duff layer, and crews have observed creeping fire behavior within the fire’s perimeter.
HALSEY, Neb. — A wildfire near Halsey has now burned an estimated 35,814 acres and remains 0% contained, according to the Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team.
As News Channel Nebraska previously reported, the Chokecherry prescribed fire on the Bessey Ranger District of the Nebraska National Forest was declared a wildfire on March 12.
“Although forecasted weather conditions were within parameters for the implementation of the prescribed fire, the wind event that took place 36 hours after ignitions ceased caused a spot fire that spread outside the project boundary,” a press release from the U.S. Forest Service reads.
Now named the Road 203 Fire, the fire is burning about 14 miles east of Thedford, two miles south of Halsey and two miles west of Dunning.
Officials said Monday that despite snow on the ground, heat remains in the duff layer, and crews have observed creeping fire behavior within the fire’s perimeter. Groups of cedar trees are also continuing to retain heat.
Firefighters are using drones equipped with infrared technology to locate hot spots. That information is relayed to crews on the ground so they can quickly extinguish areas where heat remains.
With warming temperatures in the forecast, officials warn that fire danger could increase again later this week.
Emergency closure orders remain in place for both the Nebraska National Forest and McKelvie National Forest, which are managed by the Bessey Ranger District, as crews continue responding to wildfires in the area.