Southwest Fire Department

03/28/2026

🚨🔥 Be aware of the 🚩RED FLAG WARNING🚩, and weather forecast for today, Saturday, March 28, 2026! 🔥🚨

NO OPEN BURNING PERMITTED!

If you observe a grass, brush, or field fire, please report the incident immediately by calling 911.

03/25/2026

Courtsey of one of our taxpayers who had a fire at their place.

03/13/2026

📅 Today was one for the books.

If you've ever wondered why SW Fire is so restrictive with burn permits — today answered that question. Across Nebraska, fires reignited hotspots and smoldering burn piles left behind from permits issued over the past few days and weeks. What seemed like safe burns at the time, were anything but.

Here's the hard truth: a day of rain or a couple inches of snow does not reset months of drought. Our area has seen little to no meaningful moisture since last fall, and intermittent precipitation doesn't change the long-term conditions beneath the surface. Smoldering piles wait. And on a red flag day like today, they wake up.

We understand the frustration when a burn permit is denied. Nobody wants to hear "no" when they're ready to clean up their property. But we ask that before you light that pile — or before you request a permit — think long term. Is clearing that brush pile worth the risk of losing a neighbor's barn, a field, or worse? Is it worth not checking and rechecking your piles, especially on days like today, to make sure they are out? We don't think so either. That's exactly why we make the calls we do.

Today, the SW Fire district was largely spared — but 15 of our volunteer responders left their full-time jobs and their families to help our mutual aid partners battle fires across the region. Equipment was damaged. Everyone is exhausted but we all made it home safe. Tonight, many communities across Nebraska are evacuating or preparing to evacuate as fires continue to burn.

To today's SW crew — we are so incredibly proud of and grateful for the work you put in today. We bounced from fire to fire, AND responded to a rollover accident fast enough to quickly extinguish the vehicle that caught fire. Your dedication, sacrifice, and heart for this community does not go unnoticed. Thank you!

We are also deeply grateful for:

🤝 Our mutual aid partners in Lancaster and surrounding counties
🚜 Every farmer who showed up to disc fields and cut fire lines — We don't want to think about where we'd be without you.
📡 911 dispatch for keeping us coordinated and always knowing where we were — your communication and direction made a chaotic day manageable
🚔 LSO and NSP for handling road closures and leading evacuation efforts to keep the public out of harm's way
❤️ Every volunteer and their family who gave up their day to keep our communities safe

We can always burn another day. We can't always undo the destruction when conditions aren't right.

03/12/2026

🚨 RED FLAG WARNING THURSDAY 3/12 — YOUR HELP MATTERS 🚨

As a volunteer department, our daytime response is often limited. Under extreme fire conditions - NW winds at 20-30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph and relative humidity as low as 20% - a fire can grow faster than we can respond. The best outcome tomorrow is one where we never get a call.

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for our area — high winds, low humidity, and bone-dry fuels make tomorrow extremely dangerous for wildfire.

To our farming community especially — we know this time of year is busy and the work doesn't stop. But tomorrow is a day to pause outdoor operations if at all possible. Use extreme caution if you need to get some work done. A single spark in a dry field can be devastating for you, your neighbors, and our entire district.

🚜 Farmers — we need your help too. If you can spare a tractor, please have it hooked to a disk and ready to roll tomorrow in the event a fire does start. When a grass or field fire breaks out, our farmers are often our most critical resource — cutting fire lines and disking fields are things we simply cannot do without you. Your equipment and willingness to respond can make the difference between a small fire and a devastating one.

Farmers please CONTACT US if you'd like to be part of protecting our district when we need it most!! We're always looking expand our emergency resources call list. Call the department at (402) 423-0230 or email [email protected] with your contact info.

Everyone please help us by doing your part:

🚫 No outdoor burning — not today, not tomorrow
🚜 Use extreme caution or avoid mowing, tilling, or field equipment use in dry conditions
🌾 Use extreme caution or avoid operating combines or other harvest equipment — heat and friction can ignite dry crop material
🚗 Don't park on dry grass — hot exhaust starts fires
🚬 No tossing ci******es outside or from your vehicle
🔧 Use extreme caution or postpone outdoor grinding, welding, or cutting
👀 See smoke? Call 911 immediately — don't wait

We are proud to serve this community. Help us get through tomorrow without incident. 🙏

— SW Fire

Strong winds and dry air will combine for extreme fire danger this afternoon, with a Red Flag Warning in effect from 12 PM to 9 PM. Overnight, winds will increase to 45-60 mph before diminishing by sunrise Friday.

Potential is still increasing for wintry weather this weekend as well!

02/25/2026

Congrats to our latest recruits who completed probation and received their new helmets. Your dedication is more than appreciated. Welcome aboard!

10/24/2025

A pleasure working with North Central Emergency Vehicles and E-ONE Fire Nebraska, excited for our final inspection in the upcoming weeks.

05/21/2025

Please be advised, "No active burn bans across the state" is an incorrect statement. The message that needs to be conveyed is the issuance, or non issuance, of burn permits is reinstated to the local fire chief of each fire jurisdiction across the State. The statement as written sends the wrong message to our taxpayers. Education of Nebraska Revised Statute 81-520.01 is what needs to be broadcast.

Be safe out there and please contact your local fire department if you have questions.

Once the order expires tonight, there will be no active burn bans across the state.

Governor Pillen still urges Nebraskans to use caution with any open fires and observe all recommended guidance for managing controlled burns going forward.

🔗 https://nema.nebraska.gov/articles.php?nid=307

04/12/2025

🔥🚨 Please be advised that weather conditions indicate a very high fire danger through Monday, April 14. If you observe a grass, brush, or field fire, please report the incident immediately by calling 911. 🚨🔥

Warm, dry, and breezy conditions will lead to very high fire danger across much of the area today. Practice good fire safety and avoid things that may cause a spark. Very high fire danger will also be present Sunday and Monday.

03/30/2025

02/26/2025

🚨 🔥 ISSUANCE OF BURN PERMITS SUSPENDED 🔥 🚨

Due to current and upcoming weather conditions, issuance of burn permits has been suspended indefinitely. This decision will be evaluated regularly, and we will resume issuing burn permits after receiving substantial moisture and weather permits.

All vegetation is extremely dry right now and very susceptible to fire danger, which will, in turn, spread quickly and out of control.
Please do your part to be mindful of this and refrain from activities that may result in a fire.

If you observe a grass, brush, or field fire, please report it immediately by calling 911.

01/10/2025

Tonight at 1834 hours, Southwest Fire was dispatched to a grain elevator fire. Southwest requested mutual aid from Hickman, Crete, Hallam and Southeast fire departments. The fire was brought under control at 1922 hours. Firefighters worked to extinguish hot spots and remove smoldering grain in a bin. The fire originated within a feed truck engine compartment. It was determined the cause of the fire was accidental. Thankfully there were no injuries. At this time there is not an estimate dollar amount of loss.

Big thanks to Hickman Rural Fire and Rescue, Crete Fire & Rescue, Hallam Fire & Rescue, Southwest Fire Department, Southeast Fire & Rescue Department, Lancaster County Sheriff's Office and Norris Public Power District for the help on the fire tonight. The assistance is greatly appreciated!!

11/20/2024

Be aware of the 🚩 RED FLAG WARNING 🚩, and weather forecast for this afternoon!

If you observe a grass, brush, or field fire, please report the incident immediately by calling 911.