Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1
Justin Conrad, Incident Commander

Phone (public and media inquiries): 719-283-6829, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. MDT
Email: 2026.morrill [at] firenet.gov
Linktree: linktr.ee/morrillandcottonwoodfires

Current Situation: Two new fires started overnight Wednesday in Grant County northeast of the Morrill Fire. The Ashby Fire, which started near the community of Ashby and is approximately 60,000 acres, quickly spread southward and has burned into the area already burned by the Morrill Fire northeast of the Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The Minor Fire, south of the community of Hyannis and approximately 15,000 acres, is moving southward toward Arthur County and the Morrill Fire. Around 1 a.m. MDT Thursday, the incident mobilized initial-attack resources. They are actively engaged, assisting local volunteer fire departments and Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Wildland Incident Response and Assistance Team. At Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen’s request, Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team (CIMT) 1 is assisting with both the Ashby and Minor Fires.

Very strong winds from the north all day Thursday will likely challenge firefighters despite cooler, moister conditions. To assist with the suppression of the Ashby and Minor Fires, Rocky Mountain CIMT 1 has ordered numerous engines and other resources; additional aerial resources will also be arriving Thursday to assist the suppression effort. Four Nebraska and Iowa National Guard Black Hawk helicopters are working the Ashby Fire, and three single-engine air tankers are working the Minor Fire. The incident has additional initial-attack groups staged and ready to immediately respond to requests from local or state officials to assist with the initial suppression of any other new fires that may start Thursday. The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) at the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has been and remains fully operational to coordinate with Rocky Mountain CIMT 1.

Cottonwood Fire: Critical fire weather conditions Wednesday resulted in the Cottonwood Fire spotting outside containment lines in Division A/G on the fire’s southeast perimeter northeast of Farnam. Numerous resources, including some from the initial-attack groups, responded quickly. National Guard Black Hawk helicopters conducted water drops. Crews constructed fireline around the fire and limited the new growth to 10 acres. Hand crews working on the northwest part of the fire (Divisions D and A/G) reported some fire activity on the interior but had no issues holding the firelines they are working to contain.

On Thursday, crews will continue working to increase containment on the fire’s northwest side. Engine crews will patrol the fire’s contained perimeter and yesterday’s new growth, looking for and extinguishing smoldering hotspots; they will also respond to requests by local fire departments to investigate smoke reports made to 911 dispatchers. As unburned vegetation scattered within the Cottonwood Fire’s interior occasionally ignites and flares ups, smoke will likely be visible from nearby communities and residences.

Morrill Fire: Despite critical fire weather Wednesday, engine crews patrolling the fire’s interior did not observe fire activity within the Morrill Fire’s perimeter, which is 100 percent contained. Preventing areas of unburned grass on the fire’s interior from being consumed is a priority, so on Thursday, a contingent of engine crews will continue to patrol the fire’s interior and be available to investigate smoke reports made to local 911 dispatchers. Hotspots lingering in stumps, roots or downed logs within the interior, could occasionally produce visible smoke. Over the next three days, personnel and equipment will be demobilized from the incident.

Weather and Fire Behavior: A cold front moving through both fire areas Thursday will bring very strong winds from the north and gusts up to 40 mph that will persist throughout the day. However, temperatures will moderate, with highs in the 60s. Afternoon relative humidity levels are not expected to drop below 35 percent. This combination of weather conditions makes active fire behavior unlikely in the Cottonwood Fire’s interior. Fire behavior within the Morrill Fire is expected to be minimal.

Cottonwood Fire Statistics

• Size: 129,103 ac.       
• Containment: 98%
• Personnel: 183           
• Cause: undetermined

Morrill Fire Statistics

• Size: 642,029 ac.        
• Containment: 100%
• Personnel: 195             
• Cause: undetermined