By PAUL HAMMEL
Nebraska Examiner
LINCOLN — Two wildfires, propelled by gusty winds and dry conditions, prompted evacuations southwest of the Capital City and destroyed three homes.
Two firefighters were injured, one seriously, in battling the blazes which broke out in midafternoon Sunday.
Additional information about the injured firefighters was not immediately available Monday morning, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office said.
One fire broke out south and west of Firth and, according to the Sheriff’s Office, spread “very rapidly to the north,” pushed by winds of over 30 mph. That fire was contained as of 6 p.m. Sunday, and no structures were reported destroyed.
But a second wildfire, which broke out in the area of the Lancaster-Gage County line at Southwest. 86th Street, forced the evacuation of several residents in the path of the fire in the Hallam area.
Roads were blocked off in that area, and three homes were destroyed. The Lincoln Journal-Star reported damage to the Olive Creek State Recreation Area.
The Red Cross and Salvation Army set up a relief center at Lincoln Southwest High School for those displaced by the fire, and the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln was providing shelter for animals.
The Hallam area fire was reported under control later Sunday night. A light drizzle was falling in Lincoln on Monday morning, with light winds, decreasing the fire threat.