Emergency crews appear to have gained control of a vegetation fire that broke out late Saturday afternoon about four miles south of McCook.
According to Red Willow County Sheriff Kevin Darling, multiple agencies responded to the fire, including Red Willow Western Rural Fire, Culbertson Fire, Beaver Valley Fire, McCook Fire and Rescue, Indianola Fire, and Decatur County, Kansas crews. Local farmers also assisted efforts using tractors and disks to help contain the blaze.
Sheriff Darling says firefighters have “beaten the main fire,” though crews remain on scene monitoring hot spots. Western Rural Fire is continuing mop-up operations, and no all-clear has been issued at this time pending confirmation from the fire chief.
Deputies, along with the Nebraska Department of Roads, assisted with traffic control, stopping vehicles or piloting them through areas of heavy smoke along Highway 83.
There are no confirmed reports of damage at this time. One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion but remained on scene.