North Platte, Nebraska – Fire crews are racing to secure containment lines after more than 128,000 acres burned in the Cottonwood Fire, with hotspots still flaring near Jeffrey Reservoir and threatening to expand under shifting winds.
According to the Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team, the Cottonwood Fire reached 128,289 acres with 94 percent containment as of Sunday morning, while the nearby Morrill Fire has burned 642,029 acres and is now 98 percent contained. Crews remain focused on uncontained sections northwest and southeast of Jeffrey Reservoir, where active fire behavior was reported late Saturday.
The most intense activity has been concentrated in Lincoln County near Brady and Gothenburg, where fire crews reported rapid ignition of unburned brush and at least three firefighting vehicles destroyed. Along the fire’s edge, especially in Division D and near Wiggins Reservoir, crews are reinforcing containment lines and extinguishing lingering hotspots.
Weather conditions are offering some relief. Winds are expected to ease to 15–20 mph Sunday afternoon, with humidity rising to around 30 percent and temperatures in the 60s. These changes should reduce fire intensity, though flare-ups remain possible in dry fuels.
No evacuation orders are currently in place, but temporary flight restrictions remain active over both fire zones. Officials urge residents to monitor air quality and avoid restricted areas as firefighting efforts continue.
