Communication equipment breakdowns highlighted as major issue during Morrill, Cottonwood Fires

OGALLALA, Neb. — As state and federal leaders toured wildfire damage in western Nebraska on Monday, local responders and officials pointed to communication failures as one of the biggest challenges during the historic Morrill and Cottonwood fires.

Governor Jim Pillen hosted U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, along with members of Nebraska’s congressional delegation, for an aerial tour and briefing in Ogallala. The visit comes as the Morrill Fire remains 98% contained after burning more than 642,000 acres, while the Cottonwood Fire is 96% contained at more than 128,000 acres.

First responders on the ground say communication gaps created dangerous conditions during the early hours of the fires.

“In between the radio conversations not being able to work and cell networks, that was the biggest downfall through this whole thing for us was lack of communication,” said Bridgeport Fire Chief Casey Sides. “Not that we didn’t want to communicate. We couldn’t.”

Angora volunteer firefighter Tim Kampsider, who was first on scene when the fire ignited March 12, described similar challenges.

When he arrived at the scene, flames had already spread from the downed power line and fanned by high winds the fire spread 10 miles east in less than 15 minutes. When radio communication failed and he looked at his phone to report, he saw he had no service.

“I wish we had better radios so we could have better communication on what’s happening,” Kampsider said. “I drive up to see what’s going on, but then I have to come back to the road to meet people, show people what’s going on or lead rigs through.”

Secretary Rollins emphasized the need for improved infrastructure in rural areas.

“Several of these ranches are not in cell service," Rollins said. "Hopefully this never happens again, the ninth worst in American history. Obviously the worst fire in Nebraska history. We need to prepare everything. I'm sitting here thinking I need to call my friend Elon and let him know what is happening. Insure him there may be some opportunity from the Starlink world to use this as a silver lining to make sure these ranches have better communication if something were to happen like this again."

Dawson County Commissioner Joe Richeson said the lack of communication left some residents unaware of immediate danger of the Cottonwood Fire.

"I called Adam Grabenstein and I said the fire's coming," Richeson said. "He was heading to another neighbor's to help them and he didn't know it was heading to his place. The rural firefighters, I think they need to have communication capabilities and we need to have that funding. It was mentioned it wasn't there. My wife was wondering where I was and I was in the middle of the pasture with my water truck filling fire trucks. There's an opportunity here."

Fire officials warn that hot, dry and windy conditions are expected to return this week, keeping crews on high alert across both fire zones.