BEATRICE - It was a dangerous scenario in southeast Nebraska Sunday, with field fires raging out of control.


Firefighters in Gage, Saline and Lancaster Counties spent much of Sunday afternoon fighting field fires that raged out-of-control, pushed by south winds gusting above 40-miles-per-hour. One of the fires that started in northern Gage County pushed into Lancaster and Saline Counties, prompting evacuations in Lancaster County, according to Gage County Emergency Management Coordinator Lisa Wiegand.


"We've got four fires that were identified early on. One started near 86th and Ash...and Hallam, Crete, Cortland, Clatonia, Firth, Pickrell were deployed at that one. That one is probably the one that raises a lot of concerns....because it started at Olive Creek and went into Lancaster and Saline Counties. Their E-O-Cs have been activated. We've got an active fire at 5424 South 38th so crews are over there. Then, obviously the 89th and Plum.....and then Filley had a rekindle of a fire from last night, off of Linden(Road)."


In Southwest Gage County, firefighters and units from Odell, Diller, Beatrice Rural, Wymore and Blue Springs were fighting a major blaze that started about four mile northwest of Odell and jumped several roads.


"We did have farmers turn on pivots....several farmers trying to get some of the fuel knocked down."


On the fire in southwest Gage County, farmers were disking the borders of some fields, cutting fire lines to help contain the flames.
"Several farmers were notified to turn pivots on, which they have. Quite a few guys along 89th to probably 125th have got some corn in the ground that hasn't been picked yet. They turned on their pivots....you know, what can hit it."


The evacuations were ordered in parts of Saline and Lancaster Counties with the Nebraska State Patrol assisting in that area.  Wiegand said two fires were determined to be touched off by combines being used in the fields. Conditions have remained tinder dry over the past several weeks, with Sunday temperatures approaching 90…..relative humidity levels at 35-percent and winds gusting above 40-miles-per-hour.