The fires started the way so many have lately, thunderstorms that produce no rain but lots of lightning.
Now Dawes County in the northern panhandle is fighting grass and forest fires southeast of Chadron and Crawford with another one burning north of Hay Springs.
People living in the deadhorse community along Table Road to Highway 385 have been ordered to evacuate their homes. This includes people in Chadron State Park and Camp Noresca.
So far, at least one ranch in the burn area has been destroyed form the fire.
An emergency shelter has been set up at Assumption Arena in Chadron for anyone needing a place to stay tonight.
A dispatcher at the Sheridan County Sheriffs Office in Rushville says there is no estimate on how many acres have burned northwest of Rushville.
Nebraska is sending staff from the state emergency management agency and two National Guard helicopters to help firefighters.
The fire has also caused Chadron schools to close... although there have been no evacuations within the city limits at this time.
Chadron Public School Administrators have canceled classes for Thursday and Friday due to fire uncertainty. The fire also forced Chadron State College to cancel classes.
College spokesman Justin Haag says that the campus will remain open, but the Thursday and Friday cancellations will allow students to leave early for the labor day weekend.
The campus is in no immediate danger, but officials wanted to err on the side of caution.
In 2006, a wildfire crept right to the fringe of the south side of the college's campus.
