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Nebraska wildfire burns 35,000 acres, 50 percent contained

A wildfire in South-Central Nebraska continues to burn more than 35,000 acres of agricultural land.

“It’s been pretty horrendous.”

Farmer Don Batie tells Brownfield the fire started last Thursday in Gosper and Furnas Counties from dryness and high winds. “We had one fatality in it. A number of injuries. Equipment lost. Houses lost. Buildings lost and tremendous number of livestock lost.”

The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency says the cause of the fire was a dead tree that blew into power lines.  As of Monday morning, the fire was 50 percent contained.

Batie, who lives 50 miles north of the fire, says conditions could spark another burn. “That fire is not a concern to my particular operation, but we are just as concerned that another one could start up next door. It is so tinder dry out here that another spark could set one off.” 

He says the last measurable rain fell in November.

And, Batie says, the Nebraska Farm Bureau, Nebraska Cattlemen and Governor Pete Ricketts are meeting to discuss relief efforts today.