GOVERNOR JIM PILLEN, U.S. SENATOR PETE RICKETTS AND CONGRESSMAN ADRIAN SMITH SPENT PART OF THEIR SATURDAY ON AN AERIAL TOUR OF WILDFIRES BURNING ACROSS NEBRASKA.
THEY LATER HELD A BRIEFING AT THE KEITH COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS WITH LT. COLONEL SCOTT HENRICKSON, CHIEF OF THE JOINT STAFF FOR THE NEBRASKA NATIONAL GUARD.
IN TOTAL, THREE OF NEBRASKA’S LARGEST WILDFIRES HAVE DAMAGED AROUND 600,000 ACRES.
SPECIFICALLY THE MORRILL COUNTY FIRE HAS NOW CONSUMED 460,000 ACRES AND THE LINCOLN COUNTY COTTONWOOD FIRE NEAR GOTHENBURG HAS BURNED 100,000 ACRES.
THE ROAD 203 FIRE NEAR HALSEY HAS BURNED 40,000 ACRES.
PILLEN SAYS THE STATE IS TAKING A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO ENLISTING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION AND PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS, WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK.
HE CALLED THE MAYORS OF OMAHA, LINCOLN AND COLUMBUS TO SEE WHAT FIRE PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE AND SAYS HE WILL CONTACT OTHER MAYORS AND NEARBY STATES LIKE IOWA, TO SEE WHAT ASSISTANCE THEY COULD LEND.
