At least 4,000 acres in Banner County have crumbled. The “Hubbard Gap Fire” in the Wildcat Hills has exhausted the area’s resources. The National Guard and National Forest Services have flown water tankers over the fire.
Director of Emergency Management for Region 22 Tim Newman said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
“It could have been a dragging chain and started the spark or it could have been a discarded cigarette,” said Newman. “We’re pretty sure that it was man-made because we didn’t have any lightning storms in the area in the last several days.”
Nebraska National Forest & Parks responded to 11 wildfires this year; four of those fires were started by humans. Waterloo Fire & Rescue Chief Tyler Harlow said often fires are caused by simple mistakes.
“They start from a small little burn pile — a control burn — or a cigarette being flicked out, or a piece of trash that blew out of the fire and got into a grassy area, then started there smoldering,” said Harlow.
Back in eastern Nebraska, Harlow said as conditions have remained dry this season, firefighters are on their toes.
“We make sure that all of our equipment’s ready to go,” said Harlow. “Our trucks and tankers are filled with water. And we practice as well throughout the year for these .”