Rain Overnight Aids in Combating Smokey Fire in Panhandle
Banner County, Neb. — Incident command staff at the Smokey Fire, about 15 miles southeast of Gering, are optimistic following an evening rain across the entire fire. The overnight relative humidity was 90 percent all night, which is favorable for slowing fire spread. Higher humidity keeps vegetation from rapidly drying out, and dry vegetation can intensify a blaze.
Banner County, Neb. — Incident Commander Tim Grubbs, fire chief for the Banner County Volunteer Fire Department, said crews are making progress on monitoring, maintaining and containing the fire within its current footprint.
Banner County, Neb. — Erratic winds and a temperature inversion trapping smoke near the ground, are some of the obstacles facing firefighters in the 3,700-acre Smokey Fire in Western Nebraska.
Incident Commander Tim Grubbs, fire chief for the Banner County volunteer fire department, said he is concerned for potential erratic fire behavior that could occur when the inversion lifts.
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Nathan Flowers, Gering Fire Department fire chief reported, the Carter Canyon Fire southwest of Gering was 100% contained as of Aug. 8.