A large swath of Nebraska's National Forests and Grasslands is reopening.
The U.S. Forest Service says it is rescinding its closure order for most of the 25,000 acres that were shuttered due to massive, late-summer wildfires. Forest Supervisor Jane Darnell says the closure will remain in effect for a much smaller area where the risk of falling trees and erosion remains high.
Darnell warns that trees may still be at risk to fall even in reopened areas.
Pine Ridge District Ranger John Griesinger says visitors should continue to exercise caution in the forests and grasslands. He says recent snow in western Nebraska helped with the fire risk, but the drought is still extreme and fire restrictions will remain in place.
