NE Game and Parks releases statement, says one of several agencies involved in helping prescribed burn on private land

JOHNSTOWN, Neb. - The Nebraska Game and Parks says it wasn’t the sole agency involved in a prescribed burn near Johnstown that broke containment on Monday. According to a press release from the department, the fire, which began on private land approximately four miles west and one mile north of Johnstown, was part of a planned burn. This burn was carried out with help from several partners, including Nebraska Game and Parks Commission staff, volunteer fire departments, and others.

“It was a landowner who wanted to do the burn. They did it in coordination with Game and Parks. It was run by the landowner,” said Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen. “They actually had several volunteer firefighting vehicles out, so they had the resources there. Wind pops, and it got away."

Pillen said during a press conference on Wednesday that the fire, which is in very difficult terrain, is still zero percent contained. Because of the dry weather, Pillen also enacted a statewide burn ban.

“It's so dry in Nebraska, and we think it's normal. As farmers and ranchers, we want everything to be perfect on our farm, and we want to burn our trees to do these burns, but it's not normal," said Governor Jim Pillen. “It's way too dry, and it doesn't make any sense.”

Pillen also authorized the Nebraska National Guard to mobilize 29 soldiers and airmen to help local volunteer fire departments.