Swaths of Nebraska are engulfed in fire, with some 800,000 acres burned and at least one person killed. The wildfires, which are the “largest wildfires in our history,” according to a post on X by state’s governor Jim Pillen, are being driven by a powerful heat wave across the western U.S.
Temperatures in the 80s Fahrenheit have combined with low humidity, high winds and extreme drought to increase the risk of fire in the state for at least the coming week. Already, the fires have been burning for days.
The largest of the fires, called the Morrill Fire, is less than 20 percent contained at the time of writing, according to a federal wildfire monitor. The blaze, which began on March 12, rapidly grew because of high winds. It is between about 550,000 and 643,000 acres in size. The Morrill Fire’s cause remains unclear.
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
These wildfires’ timing is not unusual: although wildfire season in this region of the U.S. typically peaks in June, wildfires have become a concern throughout the year, as dry vegetation, high winds and low humidity combine to raise risk of fires spreading. But widespread drought, in part caused by a lack of snowfall in the west and north, is worsening the risk, according to the National Interagency Fire Center, which monitors wildfires.
And so is the unseasonal heat: western states such as California and Arizona could see record-high temperatures for this time of year in the next few days, and the summerlike heat could spread into the Great Plains region, according to the National Weather Service. Concerns for an active wildfire season are likely to remain high as the winter wet season comes to an end.
Research has shown that wildfires in the western U.S. are spreading more quickly as climate change leads to hotter, drier conditions there overall. Globally, the most extreme fires are twice as common as they were 20 years ago. And in the U.S. there are more people and homes in the way of wildfires than there were in the past.