Lincoln, Neb. – The Nebraska Forest Service (NFS), part of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR), has secured more than $24 million in Community Wildfire Defense Grants from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to implement wildfire mitigation projects across Brown and Rock counties. These efforts will expand partnerships with landowners, the counties, protect communities, and improve resilience in some of the state’s most fire-prone regions.
The three projects include:
• Brown County Mitigation Crew – $5.19 million NFS foresters/fuels management team will complete 150 acres of priority fuel breaks protecting the Hidden Paradise community and Long Pine Recreation Area and help reduce the number of slash piles 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. A new forester/project leader will work with landowners to raise awareness, design fuels 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.”
“With so much ground to cover and limited firefighting resources, we have to be proactive,” said Jessica Pozehl, Brown/Rock County Deputy Emergency Manager. “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 safer when wildfires happen.”
The projects address longstanding challenges in the Sandhills, where contractor shortages left many mitigation needs unmet. With new capacity and stronger partnerships, NFS is helping Nebraska communities take proactive steps against growing wildfire threats.
The Community Wildfire Defense Grant program, administered by the USFS, is a nationally competitive initiative that helps at-risk communities plan for and reduce wildfire hazards through fuels reduction, firebreaks, and improved emergency preparedness.
