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Nebraska fire complex 60 percent contained
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FarkThe Soldier Creek Complex of fires in western Nebraska is now at 60 percent containment, but fire officials have now estimated the complex at only 3,150 acres due to better GPS mapping.
Tuesday, the complex was estimated at 3,685 acres and was only 10 percent contained.
Fire crews made "good progress" on the Soldier Creek Complex on Wednesday, according to a news release from the Northern Great Plains Joint Information Center. The complex is made up of four different fires burning about 12 miles west of Crawford, Neb.
The fire activity is expected to be continually active on the northeast side of the complex, according to the release, but fire officials are hoping to use an intense aerial attack to secure that side.
As for other areas of the fire, firefighters will secure and mop-up hot spots that exist within 150 feet of containment lines.
Fire information officer Kelly Stover said the fire jumped over a couple of lines Wednesday, but crews were able to handle the jumps.
The governor of Nebraska signed a state emergency declaration for the Soldier Creek Complex of fires on Tuesday and was scheduled to visit the complex Wednesday.
The governor's emergency declaration will ensure that Nebraska National Guard assets and other state personnel are available to assist in firefighting.
Resources fighting the fire include the Nebraska National Forest, Black Hills National Forest, Wind Cave National Park, Badlands National Park, Kansas and South Dakota.
Aerial resources being used on the fire include one heavy air tanker and four single engine air tankers, while 29 fire engines and six hand crews are working the fire from the ground.
A few other fires occurred in the Black Hills area on Wednesday, according to the joint information center.
* The Hearst Fire occurred about two miles west of Lead and was contained to less than one acre. The cause is unknown.
* The Gill Fire broke out about two miles east of Keyhole Reservoir in Crook County, Wyo. The fire, which was caused by lightning, was estimated at 10 to 15 acres.
* The Quarry Canyon Fire broke out five miles southwest of the U.S. Highway 18 and Highway 89 junction west of Hot Springs. Engines from the Nebraska, Black Hills National Forest and State of South Dakota responded to the fire, which was caused by lightning. It was contained at three-tenths of an acre.
* The Moss Fire occurred 12 miles west of Edgemont and was responded to by a Nebraska National Forest engine. The fire was caused by lightning and estimated at four to five acres.
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