BEATRICE – Two weeks ago, wildfires broke out in southeast Nebraska and officials are hoping there’s not a repeat of that scenario today.

Several Southeast and South-Central Nebraska Counties are in a Red Flag zone for extreme fire danger. Alerts go out to local volunteer fire departments who are part of a mutual aid association.

"Two weeks ago was a good indicator of the value and the partnerships that are gained with these agencies and within the 3 and 33 organization, of helping each other out."

This time of year, the threat of severe thunderstorms rises, but this spring…Gage County Emergency Manager Lisa Wiegand says dry conditions have persisted and some are having a hard time remembering an early spring where daily temperature swings have been so wide.

"My friends around me that are a little bit older cannot remember the weather being so fluctuated, either. What we do know is we have to be significantly ready for anything."

Daytime highs have been anywhere from the 40s to record-setting mid-90s. Over the next ten days, there are chances for rain across parts of eastern Nebraska, but those percentages are generally on the low side.

"With the wind that's driving a lot of those critical fire dangers, is what is most alarming...because there's a lot of fuel sources out there. Driving north, I headed up to Lincoln to NEMA today, for a meeting...and what I saw in those fire areas, some green coming through. In a couple weeks, if we could just get some rain, that would look a lot better."

Nebraska has been observing Severe Weather Awareness Week, this week. Wiegand said a drill held Wednesday included activation of the county’s network of outdoor warning sirens.

"Keep in mind these are meant to be outdoor warning sirens, so those people who are wondering why they didn't hear it inside their house, may not. You always have to have redundancy, with alerts on your phone...the weather service has a box, that's very valuable."

The National Weather Service reports temperatures cool down some, for Friday and very high to extreme fire danger will peak in southeast Nebraska on Saturday. Chances for rain increase by the early-to-middle part of next week.

Braves are relying on veteran Chris Sale to provide stability for a rotation ravaged by injuries

Braves are relying on veteran Chris Sale to provide stability for a rotation ravaged by injuries

What to know as Africans welcome UN vote on slavery reparations but questions remain

California lawmakers vote to rename César Chavez Day state holiday to Farmworkers Day after sexual abuse allegations