BEATRICE – Fire personnel remained on the scene of a huge field fire through the overnight period, wary of embers touching off other fires. The field blaze which burned grass, soybean stubble and trees, broke out at about four p.m., Wednesday, northeast of Beatrice.


"We got the bulk of the head fire knocked out yesterday before dark. We were putting out hotspots as we could. We got it contained, but the fire got into a very thick timber...and so we had it contained within that timber. The problem we were running into is that the fire burned some trees down at the base...and so sending guys in, we couldn't see trees...what was moving or above us was going to be the problem."


Beatrice Rural Fire Chief Matt Langley says investigation of the fire showed the cause suspected to be a piece of farm equipment traveling down the road, which touched off one smaller fire a mile west, then the second larger one at South 51st and East Hickory.  "I'd say it's over 50 acres for sure, probably pushing 75, 80."
Work Thursday morning was focusing on hotspots and preventing sparks from causing additional problems.


"With the wind that we have coming up, we do have some unburned fuel to the north of where this fire stopped. So, we're just going to try to keep it from sparks flying in the trees. With having so many hotspots high up in the trees, its going to prove to be difficult."


Beatrice Rural Fire was aided by several other firefighters and equipment from Filley, Pickrell, Adams, Blue Springs, Wymore and the Homestead National Historical Park.


The large fire started in CRP land, moved across a harvested soybean field, then into a hedgerow, into harvested corn, and then the trees.  "We did know of a residence that was on the north side of the timber. When I got around there, there was actually quite a buffer between the residence and the west fire line as it was going into the timber. So, we didn't deem any immediate structure threat. Once we got it contained, we knew we were okay."


Rain and a rain-snow mix are in the forecast, but even with significant moisture, Langley says it’s been so dry through the summer and early fall…caution in rural areas will be needed for some time, yet.