Morrill Fire 2026

This page will no longer be updated after 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Please contact the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency at 402-326-3179 with questions regarding the Morrill Fire. 

During the late afternoon of Thursday, March 12, 2026, a wildfire started in Morrill County, Nebraska. The fire was rapidly pushed to the east/southeast by extremely high winds. Despite the heroic efforts of firefighters and community members, the fire extended into Garden, Arthur and Keith Counties. In less than 12 hours, the fire traveled approximately 70 miles. Winds shifted to the northeast early Friday morning, March 13 and the fire is close to the western edge of Grant County. Air tankers arrived on scene early Friday morning. Local law enforcement agencies issued evacuation orders in their jurisdictions and evacuation shelters were established. Agricultural irrigation systems were activated in some areas to try to slow the fire’s spread and protect resources and structures. 

The Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1 (CIMT1) assumed management of the Morrill and Cottonwood Fires March 14. Rocky Mountain CIMT 1 managed the Ashby, Minor, Cottonwood and Morrill Fires under the direction of the State of Nebraska. The State Emergency Operations Center at the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency remains fully operational to coordinate with Rocky Mountain CIMT 1.

On Saturday, March 28 at 6 p.m. local time, Rocky Mountain CIMT 1 will transfer management responsibility of all four fires in a formal process called transfer of command. Command of the Morrill Fire will be transferred to local fire departments. Command of the Ashby Fire, Minor and Cottonwood Fires and the initial-attack response will be transferred to Rocky Mountain CIMT 2.

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.

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.