What is the name and location of the wildfire?
As of March 28, 2025, the Cottonwood Fire was burning across Dawson, Lincoln, and Frontier regions in the state of Nebraska.
The fire impacted areas near Jeffrey Reservoir and surrounding grassland and rural zones, with significant activity reported north of Effenbeck Road and south of South Cottonwood Road (1).
Which cities or areas are affected by the Cottonwood Fire?
The cities and areas affected by the Cottonwood Fire included:
- Dawson
- Frontier
- Jeffrey Lake Area
- Lincoln
What is the current containment status of the Cottonwood Fire?
As of March 28, 2025, the Cottonwood Fire was 100% contained, with 129,253 acres burned.
Firefighters made steady progress under favorable weather conditions, including reduced wind speeds that supported aerial mapping and coordinated suppression efforts.
Crews completed fire line reinforcement, mop-up operations, and hotspot monitoring, particularly in areas with dense vegetation such as red cedar stands.
Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place?
All evacuation orders and emergency alerts have now been fully lifted.
How can I protect myself from wildfire smoke?
Always plan ahead to protect yourself from wildfire smoke.
- Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
- Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
- Run a high-performance air purifier to filter wildfire smoke.
- Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
- Stay indoors; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.
As of March 28, 2025, this fire is 100% contained.
