(Update)
Location of wildfire as depicted by the National Weather Service, Goodland, Kansas.
Benkelman, Neb. — Residents of Benkelman in southwest Nebraska have been told to evacuate.
The Dundy County Emergency Manager says a large wildfire is moving southeast toward the community.
Residents are urged to evacuate to the east or to the west of town. They are urged to use caution due to low visibility due to smoke according to the National Weather Service at Goodland, Kansas.
If you are leaving Benkelman, please stay off the highway at the northern intersection of Hwy 34/61, emergency vehicles are heavily using these roadways, and portions of the fire have centered around that area. Hwy 34/61 on the west side of Benkelman accessed by Railroad Street are still open for travel to the south or west.
NEC057-151415- BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED CIVIL EMERGENCY MESSAGE DUNDY COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS 406 AM MST FRI JAN 15 2021 THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE DUNDY COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. ...AN IMMEDIATE EVACUATION ORDER IS IN EFFECT FOR BENKELMAN NEBRASKA... A WILDFIRE IS MOVING SOUTHEAST TOWARD BENKELMAN AT THIS TIME. RESIDENTS OF BENKELMAN NEED TO EVACUATE THE TOWN IMMEDIATELY, DRIVING TO THE EAST OR WEST OF TOWN TO AVOID THE FIRE. SMOKE FROM THE FIRE HAS CAUSED VISIBILITY TO BE NEAR ZERO IN SPOTS. DO NOT DRIVE ON HIGHWAY 34 TOWARD BENKELMAN. ANY ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC WILL HAMPER EFFORTS TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND HINDER EVACUATION EFFORTS. ANYONE NEEDING MEDICAL CARE IS INSTRUCTED TO GO TO THE HOSPITALS IN EITHER WRAY, COLORADO OR IMPERIAL, NEBRASKA. ADDITIONAL UPDATES WILL BE ISSUED AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE.
