Be careful out there
PURDUM - As ag producers gear up for one of the busiest seasons and people in general seem to just want to be outside doing things, it appears to be more important than ever to be careful. Dry conditions, low humidity and high winds continue to make for optimal weather conditions across much of Nebraska.
A recent fire was started by sparks thrown by a chain saw while other flames began with farm equipment scraping asphalt. Now that spring thunderstorm season is here, Mother Nature is also getting in on the act.
Lightning was the cause of multiple fires that burned 35,000 acres in the Nebraska Sandhills, according to Region 26 Director Alma Beland. “We know of at least three for sure,” she said. “They burned together. It happened fast.”
Beland said the fires stared around 5 p.m. and burned until 5 a.m. Saturday. “We had the help of rain,” she stated. “It wasn’t much, but it helped put it out.
One main spot of ignition was between Brewster and Purdum in Blaine County. Pastureland was burned. A few pivots were involved and a lot of fences were damaged, according to Beland. She added that she had no official reports however, it’s possible that some calves may have been lost. She had no reports of buildings damaged in Region 26 area.
At least 19 organizations responded to the blaze included crews from Brewster, Purdum, Halsey, Dunning, Thedford, Mullen, Stapleton, Tryon, Brownlee, Arnold, Anselmo, Broken Bow, Sargent, Taylor, Valentine, Wood Lake, Ainsworth, Raven and the U.S. Forest Service.
In addition to the Purdum fire, there was a hay bale fire in the Merna area.