A wildfire in northern Lancaster County prompted some homes to be evacuated Sunday.
Ruth Bailey
More than a dozen rural fire departments responded to a Lancaster County grass fire Sunday that took more than three hours to get under control, according to the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office.
At about 2 p.m. a combine had a bearing overheat, which sparked the fire at a field near North 80th Street and Branched Oak Road, Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said.
Due to the wind and dry conditions, the fire spread quickly. Rural fire departments, including Hickman, Southeast and Southwest fire departments, as well as local farmers, worked to prevent its further spread.
The Sheriff's Office, Nebraska State Patrol and firefighters worked to evacuate people from homes in the 9100 to 9800 block of Branched Oak Road. The fire did not damage any homes.
Houchin believes between 250 and 300 acres were burned. A valuation of crops lost was not available.
According to Drought Monitor data released last week by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, more than 73% of the state is now in at least a moderate drought.
Lancaster County is in severe drought status, making the region more susceptible to grass fires.
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