BEATRICE - Firefighters battled a grass fire late Friday afternoon, about five miles west of Beatrice.

Beatrice rural firefighters appeared to have stopped the fire near a grove of trees, east of Southwest 117th road…..north of the intersection with West Belvedere Road.

The fire apparently started along the edge of Southwest 117th, spreading north through a grader ditch and toward the trees. South winds gusting up to nearly 40-miles-per-hour fanned the flames to the north, burning the ditch, part of a field and a few trees.

Law officers directed traffic for a mile around the fire scene.
Firefighters were dispatched a few minutes before four p.m.

Also responding to help extinguish the fire were Plymouth Firefighters and a unit from the Homestead National Historical Park.

Beatrice Rural firefiighters applying water to ditch, tree line
Beatrice Rural firefiighters applying water to ditch, tree line  

Firefighters appeared to have the flames under control in about thirty minutes.

Southeast Nebraska counties were included in a red flag warning for extreme fire danger Friday, up until eight p.m.