Smoke, Power Outage, and Emergency Calls Keep First Responders Busy Overnight in Northwest Kansas

That's not fog... that's smoke in the early morning hours in Colby KS from fire in Nebraska

Many residents across Northwest Kansas noticed a strong smell of smoke and a hazy sky overnight Thursday into early Friday, prompting several calls to emergency dispatchers in the Colby area.

According to the Thomas County Sheriff’s Department, the smoke that filled the air was not coming from any fires in Thomas County.

“Attention!!! There is heavy smoke in Thomas County! There are no active fires in Thomas County. The heavy smoke is from active fires in Nebraska,” the department posted on social media early Friday morning.

Smoke Traced to Large Nebraska Grass Fires

The smoke drifting across Northwest Kansas originated from multiple grass fires burning in western and central Nebraska, including areas near North Platte and Lexington along Interstate 80.

Officials in Nebraska reported fast-moving grass fires fueled by strong winds, with evacuations ordered in parts of Lincoln and Dawson Counties Thursday evening as firefighters from more than a dozen departments worked to contain the blaze. Winds gusting over 40 miles per hour made the fires difficult to control. (https://www.wowt.com)

Across Nebraska, fire officials say the combination of dry grass, drought conditions, and high winds has created extremely dangerous wildfire conditions, with fires sometimes stretching for miles in open rangeland. (KHGI)

Emergency crews were busy though the evening with calls about worries of fires (that ended up being negative), welfare checks, and alarms going off with the power outage

Late Night Calls in Colby

Colby Fire Chief Scot Hilbrink said emergency crews began receiving calls around 1:00 to 1:30 a.m. Friday from residents concerned about the strong smell of smoke.

Firefighters did respond to at least one report of a possible fire in town.

However, the investigation revealed it was simply a glowing light visible through the heavy smoke, not an active fire.

Even though there were no fires locally, the smoky conditions had many residents understandably concerned.

Power Outage Adds to Overnight Activity

At nearly the same time the smoke was moving through the area, Midwest Energy reported a power outage reported to be caused by a raccoon that interfered with electrical equipment.

The outage lasted roughly from 1:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. and affected communities including:

• Colby

• Winona

• Gem

• Rexford

  
  

With power temporarily knocked out, alarm systems at several local businesses were triggered, leading to additional emergency calls for law enforcement and firefighters to investigate.

EMS crews were also busy checking on residents who rely on medical oxygen equipment, ensuring they were safe during the outage.

As a result, residents may have noticed multiple emergency vehicles and flashing lights around Colby overnight while responders handled smoke reports, alarm calls, and welfare checks.

You can see the fire ash in the headlights in Colby during the early Friday morning hours

Why the Smoke Reached Northwest Kansas

Meteorologist Chris Sramek with Decision Weather explained that wind patterns overnight helped pull smoke from Nebraska into Northwest Kansas.

A small low-pressure system near the Kansas–Colorado border created winds blowing from the northwest, which transported smoke from fires burning near Interstate 80 in western Nebraska directly into the region.

Sramek says the smoke will likely be most noticeable in the morning hours, but shifting winds later in the day should gradually push it back north.

However, smoke could return anytime winds shift again to the west or northwest.

Fire Weather Remains a Major Concern

The smoky conditions are occurring during a period of extreme fire danger across the region.

Much of the central United States — including Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, and the Dakotas - has been under Red Flag Warnings, indicating dangerous wildfire conditions due to:

• Strong winds

• Very low humidity

• Dry vegetation

Northwest Kansas remains very dry, with the latest drought monitor showing moderate drought conditions along the Kansas–Nebraska border and expanding dry conditions across much of the state.

Sramek says these weather patterns are expected to continue for several more days, meaning fire danger will remain elevated.

Changing Weather Ahead

Temperatures are expected to climb into the 70s today and near 80 degrees Saturday, before a strong cold front arrives late Saturday night into Sunday.

That system could bring:

• A sharp temperature drop

• Strong north winds

• Possible light snow near the Kansas–Nebraska border Sunday morning

After the cold snap, temperatures are expected to rebound quickly next week — potentially back into the 70s and 80s by midweek — continuing the cycle of dry and windy conditions that can fuel wildfire risk.

What Residents May See

Because of the Nebraska fires and shifting winds, residents in Northwest Kansas may continue to notice:

• Hazy skies

• A smoky smell in the air

• Occasional ash particles

Officials say there are currently no active fires in Thomas County, but residents are encouraged to remain alert and report any suspected fires immediately.

A THANK YOU to our emergency personnel for checking on everyone through the evening to make sure that we were all safe.