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Another outbreak of wildfires scorch Western Corn Belt

Low-humidity and high winds have sparked another outbreak of wildfires in several parts of the Great Plains.

Ag meteorologist Brian Fuchs with the National Drought Mitigation Center says numerous incidents were reported in Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming and Colorado on Wednesday. “Something that starts off small and then all of a sudden it explodes into a pretty substantial fire. We’re seeing people getting evacuated, people losing property and homes. The ag impact not only to grazing land, but the infrastructure like barns, fences and what not.”

According to WatchDuty, 8 fires started in the Cornhusker state with the tree largest burning more than 8,500 acres in Holt, Custer and Cherry Counties. Other vegetation fires were reported across the Sandhills and in neighboring states.

Fuchs says it will likely take several rain events to improve conditions. “It’s not that the low relative humidity and wind by themselves that are triggering this. We’ve got fuel on the ground that’s dried out vegetation from the winter and until we get some strong green up that comes from rain, we’re going to be in a pretty vulnerable situation.”

He says the forecast includes chances for moisture over the next several days, with the best opportunity for widespread relief on Sunday.

Brian Fuchs: