A bill designed to help fight wildfires in rural Nebraska has advanced to a final legislative vote.

Lawmakers approved several changes to the measure on Wednesday before giving it second-round approval.

The new legislation would reduce the number of single-engine aerial tanker planes stationed in Nebraska from two to one. It also would increase the number of bases that are equipped to service the firefighting plane.

The bill would also require the Nebraska Forest Service to thin forests, and develop markets for the wood shavings. Sen. Al Davis of Hyannis says the shavings could be used for pets, landscaping mulch, fence posts and fuel for heating and cooling.