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By Hola Nebraska
The fire started Monday northeast of Harrison and has already burned more than 1,000 acres. The declaration allows Nebraska to use state resources and emergency funds to help protect people and property.
Gov. Jim Pillen issued an emergency declaration for Sioux County because of the Log Road Fire, an active wildfire in northwest Nebraska that started Monday northeast of Harrison.
The governor’s office reported that the fire had already burned more than 1,000 acres when the declaration was issued. The proclamation allows state resources and emergency funds to support the protection of people and property in the affected area.
The Log Road Fire was sparked by a combination of high winds, low humidity and dry conditions beginning June 29, according to the state proclamation. The document says the fire has endangered the health and safety of Nebraska residents and damaged or threatened public and private property.
The fire started northeast of Harrison
The Log Road Fire was reported Monday, June 29, in Sioux County, a rural area of the Nebraska Panhandle. The governor’s office placed the fire northeast of Harrison, near areas already affected by recent wildfires.
Local reports indicate the fire started on private property and was identified as the Log Road Incident. The state emergency declaration was issued after the fire grew beyond 1,000 acres.
Follow-up updates placed the fire between 1,200 and 1,500 acres on July 2, with no measurable containment in recent reports. Chadron Radio reported 1,200 acres and no measurable containment Wednesday morning, while WildFire Explorer listed an estimate of 1,500 acres and 0% containment in July 2 updates.
The declaration activates state resources
The proclamation allows Nebraska to use state resources and funds to respond to the emergency.
The document authorizes the Nebraska Adjutant General, who also serves as State Disaster Coordinator, to activate state emergency plans and take necessary steps until the threat to life and property has eased.
The declaration also requests cooperation from state and federal agencies when needed. It authorizes the use of emergency management resources and available funds from the Governor’s Emergency Fund to support the response.
The operational goal is to strengthen local response capacity when the fire exceeds what local governments can handle on their own, according to the proclamation.
The fire is north of the South Fork Fire area
The Log Road Fire is located north of the South Fork Fire, another wildfire that burned more than 39,000 acres near Crawford and was reported on June 9. The governor’s office reported that the South Fork Fire was fully contained last week.
The proximity of both fires keeps attention on the Panhandle, where dry conditions, wind and low humidity have increased fire risk in recent weeks.
The South Fork Fire affected areas near Crawford, while the Log Road Fire was reported northeast of Harrison. Both areas are in northwest Nebraska, a rural region where fires can move quickly through grasslands, wind and open terrain.
Local, state and federal teams are involved in the response
The initial response was handled by the Crawford Volunteer Fire Department and nearby local departments, with support from federal resources, according to regional reports.
Incident command shifted to a state Type 3 Incident Management Team on Wednesday, July 1, at 7:00 a.m., according to fire updates. That type of team is used to coordinate resources when an incident requires a broader management structure.
The state proclamation allows that support to continue while the threat remains. The initial declaration did not include an estimated date for lifting the emergency.
The governor’s official contact is available
The governor’s office listed Laura Strimple as the contact, at 402-580-9495.
The governor’s office mailing address is PO Box 94848, Lincoln, NE 68509-4848. The physical office is located at 1445 K Street, Lincoln, NE 68508. The office’s general phone number is 402-471-2244.
The emergency declaration for the Log Road Fire was signed on June 30, 2026, at the State Capitol in Lincoln.
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