2025 Nebraska wildfires

Last updated

2025 Nebraska wildfires
Plum Creek Fire.jpg
The Plum Creek Fire near Valentine on April 22, 2025.
Statistics
Total fires23
Total area55,373

The 2025 Nebraska wildfires were a series of active wildfires in Nebraska.

Contents

Background

Nebraska Drought Monitor at its peak on May 13, 2025 2025 Nebraska Drought Monitor.png
Nebraska Drought Monitor at its peak on May 13, 2025

Historically, Nebraska’s wildfire season peaked in early to mid-summer, typically from June through September, when hot and dry weather combined with ample grass fuels created conditions conducive to rapid fire spread. [1]

However, recent years have seen notable shifts in this pattern. Officials from the Nebraska Forest Service report that, while historically the "bad fire season" occurred once every five to ten years and was largely confined to Western Nebraska, wildfire activity now begins much earlier—as early as late February—and extends through early winter, effectively turning fire "seasons" into fire years. This trend has stretched resources and transformed wildfire risk across the state. [2]

Contributing factors include warmer winters, drier springs, and increased availability of dry vegetation and fuel load. These conditions have intensified and extended the duration of wildfire hazards statewide. [3] Although specific months for prescribed burns and potential smoke impacts continue to vary, spring (particularly April) has historically seen elevated smoke due to regional controlled burns, while wildfire smoke may occur at any time of year, depending on conditions. [4]

List of wildfires

The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), produced significant structural damage, or resulted in casualties.

NameCountyAcresStart dateContainment date [a] NotesRef.
Eureka Valley Custer 4,800February 25
March 4
 [6]
Dismal River Ranch McPherson, Hooker 50,000February 25
February 28
 [7]
N Maxwell Road Lincoln 8,800March 26March 28 [8]
Dads Lake Cherry 18,552March 28March 29 [9]
Plum Creek Brown 7,075April 21April 30Started as a prescribed burn but escaped due to high winds. [10]
Boyd Garden 1,250September 9
0%
Lightning-caused. Burning in Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge. [11]
2025 Nebraska wildfires
Perimeters of wildfires in Nebraska during 2025 (Red: >1000 acres) (map data)

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Containment means that fire crews have established and secured control lines around the fire's perimeter. These lines are artificial barriers, like trenches or cleared vegetation, designed to stop the fire's spread, or natural barriers like rivers. Containment reflects progress in managing the fire but does not necessarily mean the fire is starved of fuel, under control, or put out. [5]

References

  1. ↑ "Nebraska wildfire season is typically June through September". KETV (via Nebraska Forest Service). Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  2. ↑ "The Great Plains now have 'wildfire years,' not seasons, as blazes start and spread earlier". Nebraska Public Media. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Nebraska Forest Service warns of longer and more widespread fire seasons". KLKN News. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Smoke impacts from prescribed burning and wildfires in Nebraska". NDEE/Publications. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  5. ↑ "What containment and other wildfire related terms mean". Los Angeles: KCAL-TV. September 12, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Eureka Valley Fire Map". Watch Duty . Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Dismal River Ranch Fire Map". Watch Duty . Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  8. ↑ "N Maxwell Rd Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Dads Lake Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Plum Creek Fire Map". Watch Duty. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Boyd - Wildfire and Smoke Map". datacentral.press-citizen.com. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
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