The price tag for a series of blazes in northwest Nebraska and neighboring South Dakota has reached an estimated $3.2 million.
Nebraska Emergency Management Assistant Director Al Berndt said Tuesday that the Douthit and West Ash fires were expected to cost $2.5 million. Containing the Wellnitz fire in Nebraska and South Dakota will cost an estimated $700,000.
The
estimates came as firefighters reported strong progress. Firefighter
spokesman Bill Kight says authorities are "mopping up" remnants of the
Wellnitz fire. The other fires are also in the "mop up" phase.
Berndt
says the federal government will cover firefighting costs on federal
land that was burned, and the states will reimburse local departments
for fire services on state land and private property.
The three fires in the two-state area have blackened nearly 260 square miles and are about 75 percent contained. And many of the firefighters that have been battling the fires were able to go home.
Though the fires have died down residents are still cautioned to be careful. Downed power lines may still be energized, trees may be unstable, and there are still poor visibility and poor road conditions in some areas.
