As afternoon temperatures reached 100 degrees Monday, volunteer firefighters from western Nebraska, Wyoming and South Dakota continued to battle a wildfire near Gering.
About 200 firefighters are working in shifts to contain the blaze at the Carter Canyon Wildlife Management Area, which started Saturday night following lightning strikes. According to Nebraska Forest Service spokesman Ben Bohall, the fire remained 30% contained and had burned 15,591 acres as of Monday evening.
Seven houses were damaged and three were destroyed, according to Bohall. Power lines and other energy infrastructure also suffered damage, leaving some area residents without power.
Despite no change in the containment percentage from Sunday to Monday, Bohall said Monday was a productive day for firefighters. Most of the spread happened overnight, he said.
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“Today was a very productive day for us,” Bohall said. “We are cautiously optimistic.”
Monday brought warm weather to the region with a high of 101 degrees. Temperatures in the 90s and 100s are expected to continue through Friday. Although the intense heat presents challenges for firefighters, the number of personnel on site allows incident managers to regularly replace fire crews.
“We are very lucky to have so many firefighters from all over Nebraska, Wyoming and South Dakota,” he said. “With this, we are able to switch shifts quite regularly and ensure the firefighters get the rest they need.”
Local firefighters received state and federal resources to help fight the blaze, according to Bohall. A Nebraska National Guard Blackhawk helicopter crew joined firefighting operations on Sunday, and U.S. Forest Service air tankers also assisted in aerial operations.
Our best Omaha staff photos and videos from July 2022
Allison Pulaski hoop in the crowd at the Maha Festival Friday night.
MEGAN NIELSEN THE HERALD OF THE WORLD

Sasha Quattlebaum and Kirsten McCormack show off their roller skating skills at the entrance to Maha Festival on Friday night.
MEGAN NIELSEN THE HERALD OF THE WORLD

Maha Festival 2022 ends on Saturday with headliner Beach House.
MEGAN NIELSEN THE HERALD OF THE WORLD

Princess Nokia, an American rapper, dances on stage on Saturday at the Maha Festival.
MEGAN NIELSEN, WORLD HERALD

Festival-goers watch Friday’s headliner, Car Seat Headrest, perform at the Maha Festival.
MEGAN NIELSEN, WORLD HERALD

Fish Tony lay dying in a puddle in a mostly dry Platte River bed under the Highway 81 bridge south of Columbus, Nebraska on Thursday.
CHRIS MACHIAN THE HERald OF THE WORLD

Nick Soulliere, right, poses for a portrait with his 11-year-old daughter Kennedy at the Highway 81 bridge south of Columbus, Nebraska on Thursday. They were riding on four wheels through a mostly dry Platte River bed.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE HERald OF THE WORLD

On Thursday, Jaren Frost picks up a fish from a puddle under the Highway 81 bridge in a mostly dry Platte River south of Columbus, Nebraska. Frost hoped that by moving it to a deeper puddle to the east, he could spare the fish the fate of the one behind it.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE HERald OF THE WORLD

A car heads south on the Highway 81 bridge over a mostly dry Platte River south of Columbus, Nebraska on Thursday.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE HERald OF THE WORLD

People used beach towels to mark early morning spots in Memorial Park ahead of the Sheryl Crow concert that night on Friday.
CHRIS MACHIAN THE HERald OF THE WORLD

A butterfly drinks nectar from a flower at City Sprouts Community Garden on Friday. The property has been certified by the National Wildlife Federation as an Official Backyard Wildlife Habitat Site because it provides the four basic habitat elements necessary for wildlife to thrive: food, water, shelter, and places to raise the young.
MEGAN NIELSEN THE HERALD OF THE WORLD

A family of ducks swims across the pond in Fontenelle Park on Saturday evening.
MEGAN NIELSEN THE HERALD OF THE WORLD

A man is fishing at Spring Lake Park on Saturday.
MEGAN NIELSEN THE HERALD OF THE WORLD

Barrels remain at the Nox-Crete site located at 1415 S 20th which burned to the ground on May 30, 2022.
CHRIS MACHIAN THE HERald OF THE WORLD

A newly renovated building on 24th and Ohio streets is part of the historic North 24th Street business district which is being revitalized.
CHRIS MACHIAN THE HERald OF THE WORLD

CharDale Barnes poses for a portrait next to his business, Stable Gray, in a newly renovated building at 24th and Ohio Streets on Tuesday.
CHRIS MACHIAN THE HERald OF THE WORLD

Dr Sarah Woodhouse of the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium is giving Vera, a 5-year-old tigress, a COVID booster at the safari park.
MEGAN NIELSEN, WORLD HERALD