Numerous rural fire departments and law enforcement agencies worked to contain a large grass fire Thursday morning, sparked by a combine harvesting beans.
Lancaster County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Ben Houchin says the initial call came in at 11:15 a.m., dispatching response crews to North 190th and Mill Road, just east of Waverly.
“Approximately 120 acres of grass and corn stubble were burned, along with 20 acres of beans. The combine was a total loss, but thankfully, no structures were damaged,” said Houchin.
Highway-6 from North 148th to Greenwood was shut down for approximately 30-45 minutes while crews worked to stop the fire’s spread.
“They were very concerned about Greenwood for a while, but luckily, the fire departments and the farmers were able to get it under control,” Houchin added. “There was also an anhydrous plant nearby which we were concerned about. But, again, very lucky that no structures were damaged.”
A temporary evacuation order was issued near Greenwood, but it is unknown how many residents were impacted at this time.
Fire departments from Ashland, Bennet, Ceresco, Eagle, Firth, Gretna, Hallam, Malcolm, Pleasant Dale, Raymond and Waverly were called to the scene to assist.