The Nebraska State Fire Marshal recently issued a warning concerning the danger of wildfires.
Ray Nance, Public Information and Fire Prevention Officer for the State of Nebraska, says the issues stems from windy conditions and a lack of ground moisture.
He says the most common cause of wildfires is people who are out there lighting fires to burn brush or doing farmland burn off and either they don’t have the right materials or they are lighting fires on days they shouldn’t.
"If you’re going to grill or cookout while tailgating or camping, and you’re using charcoal or a campfire, be sure you put the fire out completely when you’re done. Don’t just dump the charcoal in the trash or on the ground. It needs to be put in a metal container, thoroughly soaked down and make sure it’s put out.”
Nance says the situation changes rapidly so it’s important to check the current conditions. There is a daily up-to-date Nebraska Forest Service Fire Danger Map online at nfs.unl.edu.