BEATRICE – Ongoing dry conditions have prompted a natural resources district to ban fires at its properties.

The Lower Big Blue NRD has banned campfires or open burning of any kind at all district recreational areas until further notice.

Officials recently announced that NRD lakes in the Lower Big Blue District will be closing for the season to all vehicle traffic, as of October 28th.

This past week, the dry conditions, low humidity and gusty winds pushed wildfires across southern, eastern and northeastern Gage County.  Two buildings were burned in the fires…and three firefighters had minor injuries.  The fires were mostly touched off by harvesting activity, burning stubble fields and unharvested corn and soybeans.