Morrill Fire becomes largest in Nebraska history as statewide fires top 243 000 ha (600 000 acres)

A wildfire outbreak in western and central Nebraska has burned more than 243 000 ha (600 000 acres) since March 12, 2026, according to state officials, including the Morrill Fire, which Gov. Jim Pillen described as the largest wildfire in Nebraska history. One fatality has been confirmed as strong winds and critically dry vegetation fueled a rapid fire spread across the Nebraska Sandhills. The fires have also burned parts of Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge within the Sandhills, a region regarded as the world’s most intact temperate grassland. Source