What is the name and location of the wildfire?
As of June 11, 2026, the South Fork Fire is burning near US-20 and Soldier Creek Wilderness, approximately 13 miles east of Harrison, in Dawes and Sioux Counties, Nebraska (1). The fire is impacting areas near Fort Robinson State Park and the Nebraska National Forest’s Pine Ridge Ranger District.
Which cities or areas are affected by the South Fork wildfire?
Cities and areas directly affected by the South Fork wildfire include:
- Chadron
- Crawford
- Fort Robinson State Park
Air quality has been impacted in nearby Yoder. Shifting winds could also affect air quality in Scottsbluff, Nebraska; Casper, Wyoming; and Rapid City, South Dakota.
What is the current containment status of the South Fork wildfire?
As of June 11, 2026, the South Fork Fire is burning across 23,112 acres and is 5% contained. Firefighters are hampered by rugged terrain and an abundance of dry ground cover fueling the flames (2).
Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place?
Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for Fort Robinson State Park and portions of Crawford, including areas immediately north of Crawford’s city center, including locations south of Dodd Road, west of Dodd Road, and Dodd Road itself at Holmgren Road (3). The Ponderosa Villa assisted living facility has also been evacuated.
A preliminary evacuation notice has been issued for the entire city of Crawford.
Evacuees are being directed to shelters in Chadron, Alliance, or Scottsbluff, with Andrews Hall at Chadron State College available as an emergency shelter. Residents in Sioux County south of Highway 20 to 4 Mile Road are advised to prepare for potential evacuation.
Authorities encourage all residents in affected areas to shelter in place, remain prepared, and monitor alerts from emergency managers and local media.
Protect yourself from wildfire smoke
See how a wildfire smoke air purifier can help clean your air.
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.
