Ashby

1 - Fire Start, Size and Growth

Start Date/Time/Location: The Ashby Fire ignited around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, near Abbott Road in the village of Ashby, Grant County, Nebraska.
Size and Containment: As of Monday, March 30, 2026, the fire has burned 36,004 acres and is currently 51% contained.
Fuels, Growth and Rate of Spread: Igniting in the Nebraska Sandhills, the fire has been fueled by critically dry pastureland vegetation. The fire spread rapidly southward during its initial hours as winds shifted and increased from 5 mph to 30 mph.
Containment Efforts: Command of the fire transitioned over the weekend to the Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 2. The response includes local volunteer fire departments, the Nebraska State Fire Marshal's Wildland Incident Response and Assistance Team, and aerial support from Nebraska and Iowa National Guard Black Hawk helicopters.

2 - Emergency Information

Evacuations and Sheltering:
Mandatory Evacuation Orders: The Grant County Sheriff's Office issued mandatory evacuation orders for the village of Ashby and surrounding areas early Thursday morning. Most evacuations have largely been lifted as containment has increased over the last 72 hours.
Evacuation Warnings: Officials considered expanding evacuations to the community of Hyannis, but the order was ultimately not issued after winds shifted.
Evacuation Shelters: Displaced residents were directed to shelter at Hyannis Schools.

Road and Infrastructure Closures:

• A stretch of Nebraska Highway 2 in Grant County was closed during the initial rapid spread of the fire but has since reopened.

For more information, visit:

• Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
• Grant County Sheriff's Office
• National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)

3 - Current Impact

Impacts:
Injuries and Fatalities: No injuries or fatalities have been reported in relation to the Ashby Fire.
Structures Impacted: Two homes and several outbuildings were destroyed in the village of Ashby.
Agricultural Impact: The fire has caused extensive damage to pastureland in the Sandhills, resulting in a massive loss of grass and grazing land for local cattle ranchers.

Safety Concerns:
Burn Bans: Governor Jim Pillen has extended a statewide burn ban through April 10 due to extreme fire danger.
Air Quality: Smoke may pose health risks; residents should monitor local air quality advisories and stay indoors if they have respiratory conditions.
Support: The American Red Cross is actively supporting Nebraskans affected by the recent wildfires.

4 - Ongoing Outlook

Containment Projections: Firefighters have successfully stopped the forward progress of the fire. Crews continue to mop up hotspots and secure the perimeter, with aircraft actively working the flanks to support ground teams.
Weather and Wind Warnings: A Red Flag Warning remains in effect for much of western Nebraska. A cold front is expected to pass through the area, bringing increased winds shifting from the west to the north, with gusts potentially reaching up to 45 mph.

5 - Cause and the Role of Weather and Climate

Cause: The Ashby Fire is believed to have been sparked by dry lightning during a passing storm, a cause that was corroborated by drone footage over the area.
Weather and Climate: The fire's rapid spread was heavily influenced by ongoing extreme climate conditions. Much of Nebraska is currently experiencing Severe to Extreme drought, leaving vegetation critically dry. This drought, combined with unseasonably warm temperatures, low relative humidity, and strong wind gusts, created explosive fire weather conditions that challenged initial suppression efforts.

6 - For more information, visit:

• Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
• Nebraska Forest Service - Wildfire Information
• National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)