Nebraska Forest Service awarded $24 million-plus for wildfire mitigation projects

The Nebraska Forest Service, part of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, has secured more than $24 million in Community Wildfire Defense Grants from the U.S. Forest Service to implement wildfire mitigation projects across Brown and Rock counties. The efforts will expand partnerships with landowners and the counties; protect communities; and improve resilience in some of the state’s most fire-prone regions.

With the funds, Brown and Rock counties, in collaboration with the Nebraska Forest Service, will conduct three projects:

• Brown County mitigation crew, $5.19 million: Foresters and a fuels management team will complete priority fuel breaks protecting the Hidden Paradise community and Long Pine Recreation Area and help reduce the buildup of woody debris throughout the region.
• Stop the Burn: Creating Resilient Working Lands for Brown County, $9.8 million: This project will establish at least 2,500 acres of fuel and firebreaks (areas absent of vegetation, designed to stop the spread of fire). A forester/project leader will work with the county and landowners to raise awareness, design fuel reduction projects, implement projects and maintain them over the next decade.
• Stop the Burn: Creating Resilient Working Lands for Rock County, $9.8 million: Similar to the Brown County effort, this project will reduce wildfire risk in steep, remote Rock County landscapes to protect homes, ranches and communities.

“These investments are transformational for rural Nebraska,” said John Erixson, Nebraska state forester. “By working side by side with landowners and communities, we can reduce wildfire risk, protect livelihoods and strengthen the long-term health of our working lands.”

Jessica Pozehl, deputy emergency manager for Brown and Rock counties, said that with so much ground to cover and limited firefighting resources, the counties must be proactive.

“These funds will allow us to create fuel breaks, reduce fire risks and improve access in remote areas, which means our crews can respond faster and more safely when wildfires happen,” she said.

The projects address longstanding challenges in the Sandhills, where contractor shortages have left many mitigation needs unmet. With new capacity and stronger partnerships, the Nebraska Forest Service is helping communities take proactive steps against growing wildfire threats.

The Community Wildfire Defense Grant program is a nationally competitive initiative that helps at-risk communities plan for and reduce wildfire hazards through fuel reduction, firebreaks and improved emergency preparedness.