Dangerous fire weather conditions continue Tuesday
Fire departments battling the Buffalo Creek Wildfire in the Nebraska panhandle won't see relief from mother nature Tuesday.
By News Channel NebraskaGERING - Fire departments battling the Buffalo Creek Wildfire in the Nebraska panhandle won't see relief from mother nature Tuesday.
Any fires burning or that develop will likely spread rapidly due to the level of dryness and elevated winds, according to the National Weather Service office in Cheyenne. A red flag warning is in effect until 5 p.m. Tuesday for Cheyenne, Kimball, Banner, Scotts Bluff, Morrill, Garden, Deuel, Keith and Arthur Counties in western Nebraska. The warning also includes central and north-central Nebraska, and Laramie and Goshen Counties in southeast Wyoming.
Outdoor burning is not recommended. The NWS says while the relative humidity values will likely not reach critical fire weather values (at or below 15%), the dryness of the fuels in combination with the elevated winds gusting 30 to 40 mph will be more than enough to carry fire if there's an ignition source.
The latest update from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) Monday says the Buffalo Creek Fire has claimed 2,538 acres since the blaze began midday Sunday.
Multiple local department and state agencies have responded. Twenty-four engines along with personnel are on scene. Monday morning, the Nebraska National Guard deployed two Blackhawk helicopters and nine soldiers from Lincoln to fly sorties over the fire. Two air tankers from Colorado are also assisting.
No injuries or structure losses have been reported as of Monday afternoon.
The Firefighter Ministry is accepting donations of water, Gatorade, eye drops, ibuprofen, granola bars, chips and chapstick at the Gering Fire Hall.
A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.