Story and information from Knox County Sheriff’s Office
On April 21, 2026, at about 1:15 pm, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call about a fire located north of Hwy 12 and east of 532 Ave. The fire was on property owned by David Pinkelman of Niobrara, NE.
Upon talking with the owner’s brother, Joe Pinkelman, also of Niobrara, NE, it was explained that burning without a permit is a misdemeanor, and if found guilty, a person would have to pay a fine.
Joe Pinkelman stated that he was burning small twigs and that the fire spread to some tall grass, and he could not keep the fire contained. Joe Pinkelman stated that he does not have a cellphone, so he went to the casino to call for help. Joe Pinkelman stated that he did not have a burn permit. Joe Pinkelman believed that the only property damaged was to his brother’s land.
The fire was battled, contained, and observed from around 1:30 pm on 04-21-2026 through 04-23-2026.
Firefighters and trucks/equipment from Santee, Niobrara, Bloomfield, Lindy, Verdigre, Creighton, BIA and the Knox County Emergency Manager responded to the fire. Because of the rough terrain, airplane assistance was requested mid-afternoon on 04-22-2026.
Burning without a permit, NE statute 81-520.01, is a class IV misdemeanor and carries a fine between $100 and $500.
A report will be sent to the county attorney.
