NORTON COUNTY —Authorities in Norton County on Saturday evening informed the pubic that there is a potential for residents in the western part of Norton County to be prepared for a situation where they must evacuate their property due to the fires.
Just north of Norton, crews made progress fighting wildfires that forced people in several communities in southwestern Nebraska to evacuate, authorities said Saturday.
The Norton County Sheriff's office reported on social media that an evacuation area if necessary would consist of properties from W4 to W14 roads and from the state line to K Road
The sheriff's office also provided a few tips when preparing
Inside: Have an emergency evacuation bag.
Have a plan on where to go when it is time to evacuate.
Shut all windows and doors.
Remove flammable window window shade or curtains.
Move flammable furniture to the centers of the rooms.
Shut off gas and turn off pilot lights.
Leave your lights on so fireman can see your house under Smokey conditions.
Shut off the AC
Outside: Turn off propane tank.
Move propane bbq appliances away from structures.
Connect a garden hose to the outside water valves, but do not leave them running.
Leave exterior lights on.
Leave your emergency evacuation bag in your vehicle and make sure that it is already loaded up with items you want to take with you.
Leave a ladder near the exterior of your house.
Make sure you are aware of where the fire is at.
Check on neighbors and see if they need assistance with preparing to evacuate after you have made your preparations.
We know that the firefighters are doing all they can and we cannot thank them enough for all they have done so far and will contain to do until the fire is under control. If you do not need to be in the affected area, please, do not travel the area as the firefighters are focusing on the fire, not you.
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CAMBRIDGE, Neb. (AP) — Crews were making progress fighting wildfires that forced people in several communities in southwestern Nebraska to evacuate, authorities said Saturday.
The fires pushed by strong winds threatened mostly rural areas hit hard this spring by drought, although residents in the town of Cambridge were the first ones asked to evacuate Friday evening, the Furnas County Sheriff’s Office said. The community of about 1,000 people is located near Arapahoe, where wildfires burned nearly 35,000 acres earlier this month.
Wildfires were reported Friday from northwestern Kansas to the Cambridge area, with a smaller blaze between Cambridge and Stockville. While the Nebraska Department of Transportation said Saturday morning that conditions had improved, the risk of fires and significant blowing dust are still possible.
Several churches and schools opened their doors to people displaced by the fires. Some highways that were forced to close were opening up Saturday, bringing a warning from the Nebraska State Patrol Troop D on social media that it’s not an excuse to “go look.”
“Emergency crews are still on scene and working active fires,” the posting said. “If you have no business in the area, we ask you to please stay clear.”
There were no immediate reports of damage to homes or businesses.
A high wind warning for the possibility of gusts more than 50 mph was issued for much of central and western Nebraska through Saturday morning.