The National Weather Service in North Platte issued a hazardous outlook until 8 p.m. today for Lincoln County. The red flag warning cautioned that low humidity and gusty wind conditions will create critical fire weather, according to meteorologist Chris Buttler. “In our area, we are more worried about a grass fire,” he said.  Wildfires continue rage on the West Coast, Colorado and Wyoming, Nebraskans are experiencing hazy skies from the smoke drift.

According to authorities, North Platte is at just as much risk for fiery devastation as Wyoming, Colorado and the West Coast. The recent drought has prolonged Nebraska’s wildfire season according to North Platte firefighters.  “We could have the same sort of issues, they wouldn’t be such a grand scale because of the size of the forests and urban areas,”  North Platte Fire Battalion Chief Jim Einspahr said. 

According to Cal Fire, the California wildfire website, over 4 million acres have burned in California this year.   According to the Omaha World-Herald, A wildfire in the early summer burned

about 4,000 acres and threatened farmstead, ranches, and agriculture properties in western Nebraska.

The out of control fires are caused by humans, lightning and dry land.

Many have lost their homes in California, and 31 people have died. “The fire was pretty scary, it got within 3 miles of our house,” Northern California resident Kathy Sims said.

In Washington State, the smoke filled the air and created a hazardous breathing condition. “It was incredibly smoky and had really bad air quality,”  Washington high schooler Ben Hamilton said.

“Only you can prevent forest fires,” is the iconic line was introduced in 1947 by Smokey Bear. 

 Einspahr said humans can help avert these fires. “The best way we can prevent wildfires is through land management, being extremely cautious when having campfires, and not burning campfires when the wind is 10 miles an hour or greater,” said Einspahr.