Dangerous weather conditions for brush fires were forecast Thursday for much of Nebraska, meteorologists said.
A red flag warning from the National Weather Service said low humidity and wind gusts up to 45 mph are expected.
Brush fires have blackened thousands of Nebraska acres so far this week, officials said.
Regional 26 emergency manager Alma Beland estimated that firefighters battled flames Monday on between 1,500 and 2,000 acres between Thedford and Stapleton.
A blaze north of Lodgepole forced closure of U.S. 30 for a time Wednesday. It was contained by 6 p.m., officials said. It's not clear how many acres were charred.