03/13/2026
📅 Today was one for the books.
If you've ever wondered why SW Fire is so restrictive with burn permits — today answered that question. Across Nebraska, fires reignited hotspots and smoldering burn piles left behind from permits issued over the past few days and weeks. What seemed like safe burns at the time, were anything but.
Here's the hard truth: a day of rain or a couple inches of snow does not reset months of drought. Our area has seen little to no meaningful moisture since last fall, and intermittent precipitation doesn't change the long-term conditions beneath the surface. Smoldering piles wait. And on a red flag day like today, they wake up.
We understand the frustration when a burn permit is denied. Nobody wants to hear "no" when they're ready to clean up their property. But we ask that before you light that pile — or before you request a permit — think long term. Is clearing that brush pile worth the risk of losing a neighbor's barn, a field, or worse? Is it worth not checking and rechecking your piles, especially on days like today, to make sure they are out? We don't think so either. That's exactly why we make the calls we do.
Today, the SW Fire district was largely spared — but 15 of our volunteer responders left their full-time jobs and their families to help our mutual aid partners battle fires across the region. Equipment was damaged. Everyone is exhausted but we all made it home safe. Tonight, many communities across Nebraska are evacuating or preparing to evacuate as fires continue to burn.
To today's SW crew — we are so incredibly proud of and grateful for the work you put in today. We bounced from fire to fire, AND responded to a rollover accident fast enough to quickly extinguish the vehicle that caught fire. Your dedication, sacrifice, and heart for this community does not go unnoticed. Thank you!
We are also deeply grateful for:
🤝 Our mutual aid partners in Lancaster and surrounding counties
🚜 Every farmer who showed up to disc fields and cut fire lines — We don't want to think about where we'd be without you.
📡 911 dispatch for keeping us coordinated and always knowing where we were — your communication and direction made a chaotic day manageable
🚔 LSO and NSP for handling road closures and leading evacuation efforts to keep the public out of harm's way
❤️ Every volunteer and their family who gave up their day to keep our communities safe
We can always burn another day. We can't always undo the destruction when conditions aren't right.
