Wildfire Resources

Nebraska has seen record-breaking wildfires since the start of this year, with about one million acres burned. Our state has experienced its largest recorded wildfire, the Morrill
Fire, which ignited in March and burned over 640,000 acres, according to NOAA(1). With the recent wildfires impacting Nebraska, many organizations have developed resources to support communities affected by this hazard. Below is a list of online resources available with a summary of what the program is and how to access it:

Nebraska Cattlemen is a grassroots organization in the state that works to protect beef cattle producers by providing resources to members, promoting policies that support
beef cattle producers, and advocating on behalf of the cattle community. This organization has listed a range of resources, including statewide agriculture fire
response, donation locations, mental health resources, and national resources.
Donations to the Nebraska Cattlemen Disaster Relief Fund help those impacted by the
recent wildfires-100% of contributions go directly to producers:
https://necattle.memberclicks.net/disaster-relief-fund (the application for receiving funds
can be found in the same link).

The Nebraska Farm Bureau provides advocacy, education, and leadership
development to improve the lives of Nebraska's farm and ranch families. This
organization has a disaster relief program for those impacted by the spring 2026
wildfires. Applications were available online starting May 1st and are reviewed monthly.
Distributions will continue until 100% of donations are used. More information about the
disaster relief program and how to apply is available here: https://www.nefb.org/disaster.

United Way of Western Nebraska (UWWN) is a nonprofit whose mission is "to unite
people and resources of Western Nebraska to build a stronger, healthier and more
compassionate community. UWWN has a website that consolidates information for
those impacted by the western wildfires: https://uwwn.org/wildfire-resources.

Governor Jim Pillen has issued a state of emergency, executive orders, and policy
initiatives to support wildfire response and recovery. The recent emergency declaration
for the Corkscrew Fires activates state resources and the Governor’s Emergency Fund
to help cover response costs. Recent press releases from the Governor’s office on
Nebraska fires are available here. Additionally, two federal disaster declarations for the
Nebraska fires have opened federal assistance to communities affected by the South
Fork and Morrill fires.

Recovery from these historic fires will likely extend beyond this year, as many areas are no longer suitable for grazing this summer. Long-term efforts to mitigate and prepare for
future fires are essential to remember when rebuilding post-disaster. Regional hazard mitigation plans, community wildfire protection plans, and emergency management
agencies can be critical resources for local communities to develop strategies to reduce
wildfire risks in the future. The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency and the
Nebraska Forest Service are statewide organizations that provide supplemental
resources and documents on wildfires, such as the 2026 Nebraska Hazard Mitigation
Plan and the 2026-2027 Emergency Assistance Wildfire Control Yellow Book.

Additionally, there is a Free Technical Assistance Program for communities affected by wildfires with applications now available.

Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire is a free technical assistance program that helps communities across the United States reduce wildfire risk through improved land use planning, compelling communication, and applied research.

Any community in the United States may apply, including towns, cities, counties, and tribes. The applicant must have authority over local land use and zoning decisions. Selected communities typically receive one year of direct technical assistance from CPAW staff and partners.

Applications are open until July 31, 2026. Communities can apply at this link. 

Decisions will be delivered by September 30, 2026. The MOU and onboarding process will begin in December 2026 and work begins January 2027.

The interdisciplinary CPAW team draws in various experts depending on the wildfire risks and needs faced by the community. Read more about what we do and where we work. CPAW is a program of Headwaters Economics, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization. Established in 2015, CPAW is funded by the U.S. Forest Service and private foundations.

(1) NOAA. “NOAA’s Wildfire Detection System a “Game Changer” for Nebraska’s Record-Breaking Morrill Fire”. Accessed https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/news/noaas-wildfire-detection-system-game-changer-nebraskas-record-breaking-morrill-fire