BEATRICE – A fire in a testing area at Exmark Manufacturing prompted an evacuation of employees Wednesday afternoon.

Beatrice Firefighters were sent to the company in the Gage County Industrial Park just after three p.m.   Captain Corey Lienemann says a mower was being tested in a lab when fuel apparently leaked and ignited, causing a small explosion and what company personnel reported as a medium-sized fire.

Lienemann says a plant sprinkler system had most of the fire extinguished  when firefighters arrived.  They observed light smoke in the area upon arrival. The testing facility is immediately north of the main Exmark Manufacturing area.

Lienemann says one employee had minor burns to an arm and a hand but refused medical treatment.  There were no other injuries. 

Firefighters were on the scene for about an hour.