Thursday March 19 2026 – Scanner News

Structure Fire 1300 Block of East Overland

(SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb.) — Fire crews are not only out there in the wild, fighting fires, but they are also responding to local calls. Shortly before 1pm on March 16th, Scottsbluff Fire was dispatched to the 1300 block of East Overland.

Engine 1 arrived on scene about 4 minutes after the initial page and observed a shed on fire next to a vacant trailer. Damages are estimated to be around $15,000 and no one was displaced as a result of the fire.

RED FLAG WARNING

Dangerous fire conditions continue today through Saturday. A red flag warning is in effect Thursday for much of the Panhandle where critical fire weather conditions are expected.

Afternoon highs in the upper 70s to mid 80s, humidity dropping near 10% and breezy west winds will create an environment where fires can easily start and spread. Avoid outdoor burning and use extreme caution with any potential ignition sources.

We’re only into this 4 day stretch of record breaking warmth with new records already being set across the area. Scottsbluff hit a high of 83 yesterday to tie their 2017 record and Sidney broke their 2017 record of 79 degrees by hitting 81 yesterday.

Announcement of fire containment percentages for Morrill Fire (67%) and Cottonwood Fire (78%) dated March 19, 2026, presented by Scanner News. — As of Thursday, the Cottonwood Fire was at 78% containment, with Morrill at 67%.

Map showing the area affected by the Morrill Fire in Nebraska, outlining the fire's perimeter and indicating the location of Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

Cool Off with a Free Cone from DQ

(SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb.) — Let’s hope that our local Dairy Queen honors this. We are told it is free cone day. Today March 19th. Visit Dairy Queen Grill and Chill today to get your free cone. If it’s true, tell them the scanner sent you. If it’s not true, blame it on the internet.

If you are a local business with promotional specials, we are usually willing to share it with the public.

We also have a free community calendar for local events in the panhandle of Nebraska and southeast Wyoming.

Visit www.panhandlescanner.com for more!

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Friday Jul 24 2026 - Scanner News - Panhandle Scanner News

Watch out for the rattlesnake on Omaha Beach if you're out at Lake McConaughey. At 5 p.m. last night on July 23rd, there was a snake spotted. Pretty good size. Please be aware of your surroundings while enjoying the lake. They're out and this heat will have them looking for water and cool places as the summer continues. Muhammad Ali once said, service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth. The Hershey Volunteer Fire Department posted that meaningful and timeless message yesterday as a reminder that the recent fires highlights the amazing communities we serve. If you want to give back, contact your local fire department. There is a construction update in Torrington. The East D Street construction project is in its final stages and there will be some closure changes over the next few days. If you haven't driven through the area lately, East D Street is now open to East 28th Avenue, which provides an easy connection to Main Street. The Chadron Area 9-1-1 lines were down yesterday. They have been restored after they learned that a fiber optic had been cut at an unknown location. The Mitchell Volunteer Fire Department recently posted that they responded to a grass fire on July 20th in the area of Murphy Road and Highway 29 north of Mitchell and Sioux County. It was likely started from a lightning strike as thunderstorms moved through the area. Luckily, the rain from those storms put out the fire before it could get very big. They did respond with eight trucks and multiple personnel. The Alliance Fire Department project is complete. They wrote, "she's a beaut, Clark. After a six-month refurbishment project, we're happy to welcome number 342 home." Thank you to Frytech Inc. for all your hard work and taking our vision and making it a reality.