Evacuation ordered for Cedar View area at Lake McConaughy due to grass fire
Immediate evacuation ordered for the Cedar View area at Lake McConaughy due to a large grass fire. Residents are told to evacuate south, east or west.
By News Channel NebraskaPhoto Courtesy: Gail Nelson Bleidt & Joe Arterburn
OGALLALA, Neb. — An immediate evacuation was ordered Friday afternoon for the Cedar View area at Lake McConaughy as a large grass fire burned in Keith County.
The evacuation notice was issued at 12:19 p.m. MST at the request of Keith County Emergency Management and 911 and relayed by the National Weather Service in North Platte.
Law enforcement is requiring residents in the Cedar View area to evacuate immediately due to the fire. Officials advised residents to evacuate to the south, east or west away from the fire area.
One witness told News Channel Nebraska the fire started by Otter Creek Ranch. Authorities are evacuating Cedar View, Lakeshore and Albees. The witness said there is no wind to fuel the fire.
The evacuation comes as a Red Flag Warning remains in effect until 6 p.m. CST (5 p.m. MST) Friday for portions of western and north central Nebraska, including the Eastern Panhandle and areas near Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge and the Niobrara Valley.
The National Weather Service said northwest winds of 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph, relative humidity as low as 16% and temperatures up to 65 degrees are creating critical fire weather conditions.
“Any fire starts will have a high potential to spread rapidly and will be difficult to control,” the weather service said.
No information was immediately available regarding the size of the fire, injuries or structural damage.
Residents in the affected area are urged to follow directions from local authorities and monitor official emergency communications for updates.