Wednesday Jul 1 2026 – Scanner News

Yesterday, shortly before noon, Engine 1 of the Scottsbluff Fire Department had cleared a previous call for service when they observed smoke in the area around South Beltline and 9th Avenue. Crews went to investigate, and upon arrival observed staff members utilizing heavy equipment to remove debris that had accidentally caught on fire after cutting operations. Fire personnel assisted with extinguishing the fire and were able to clear the scene within an hour.

Speaking of fires, last night the high winds associated with a passing thunderstorm compromised the fire line on the northern end of the burn area of the Log Road Fire. The Red Flag Warning is in effect in the area, per Crawford Volunteer Fire Department. The Log Road Fire has burned over 1,200 acres and is estimated at 0% containment. 

And those thunderstorms also were in the news last night, with reports of high wind and power outages in the town of Llewellyn, and reports of campers being displaced at Lake McConaughey. We’ll have more on that story as it becomes available. And again, remember to always have several different ways to get alerts. Visit PanhandleScanner.com for a series of resources for emergency alerts and other things. 

Drone programs are finding some success here recently. The Kearney, Nebraska Police Department had a golden opportunity to display their new drone program capabilities to its fullest. After fleeing from officers, they launched a drone and safely took the suspect into custody within minutes. The drone program enhances officer and community safety by providing real-time aerial support and helping bring incidents like this to a safe conclusion. Drones aren’t all bad, unless you’re a criminal.