Nebraska Forest Service

SOUTH FORK FIRE EVACUATIONS, CLOSURES, SHELTER & SMOKE INFORMATION

**NO NEW EVACUATIONS SINCE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10th**

According to Nebraska Emergency Management Region 23, the following evacuation orders remain in effect:

Preliminary Evacuation (Be Ready to Leave)
• Residences south of Highway 20 to 4 Mile Road in Sioux County
• City of Crawford, Nebraska

Evacuation Order (Leave Now)
• Areas north of Crawford including:
• Areas south of Dodd Road
• Areas west of Dodd Road
• Dodd Road at Holmgren Road
• Ponderosa Villa Assisted Living Facility
• Fort Robinson State Park (Dawes County)

Evacuation Destinations: Residents evacuating the area are encouraged to travel to Chadron, Alliance, or Scottsbluff.

Evacuation Shelter Information:Displaced residents are encouraged to take advantage of the American Red Cross evacuation shelter located at Andrews Hall on the Chadron State College campus.

The shelter is providing:
• Two meals per day
• Water and snacks
• A safe place to stay and access support services

Current Closures
• Fort Robinson State Park
• Highway 20

Smoke Impacts: Smoke from the South Fork Fire may impact air quality across the region. Smoke can pose health risks, especially for children, older adults, pregnant individuals, and those with heart or respiratory conditions.

For information on smoke impacts, air quality, and steps you can take to protect yourself and your family, visit: https://dwee.nebraska.gov/smoke-and-air-quality

Please avoid all active fire areas and allow firefighters and emergency personnel the space they need to safely conduct operations.

Nebraska Emergency Management Agency
Nebraska Forest Service
Nebraska National Forests & Grasslands

This incredible photo was taken by Nebraska Forest Service Fire Management Specialist, Jacob Pittman.

Nebraska Forest Service personnel are actively assisting with suppression efforts on the South Fork Fire in northwestern Nebraska. Staff are supporting incident operations on the ground and in the air, including coordinating Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) missions to help slow fire spread and support firefighters working in challenging terrain.

The South Fork Fire, burning in the Soldier Creek Wilderness area, has grown to nearly 9,000 acres. Firefighters continued suppression efforts overnight, constructing fire lines and strengthening existing containment work. Additional ground and aerial resources are expected to remain engaged throughout the day.

A Red Flag Warning remains in effect through this evening for eastern Wyoming and the Nebraska Panhandle due to low relative humidity and gusty winds, creating conditions favorable for rapid fire growth and challenging firefighting operations. Residents are encouraged to stay informed, avoid the fire area, and remain prepared as crews continue working to contain the fire.

"Dry thunderstorms" are thunderstorms that produce little or no precipitation at the surface. In combination with dry fuels (i.e. vegetation), dry thunderstorms can ignite fires with lightning but won’t provide much rain to put the fires out. Therefore, dry thunderstorms are a factor in fire weather forecasts. weather.gov/abq/clifeature2010drythunderstorms