Dry conditions and high winds during the past week have resulted in multiple fires in the area, including a pasture fire that broke out on Thursday evening, March 24 and spread along Callaway Road. The fires threatened several homes and building structures - but thanks to the quick work of multiple fire departments and aerial support nothing was destroyed.

According to Callaway Fire Chief Dan Trumbull, at approximately 5 p.m. fire crews were dispatched to multiple grass fires northeast of Callaway along the Callaway Road. According to Trumbull, a farm implement was traveling along Callaway Road and had unintentionally started seven small fires along the road. The fires began to burn south and while some were extinguished, others eventually ‘jumped’ the South Loup River where crews were able to contain the flames.

Trumbull stated numerous homes were threatened including a Thomas Livestock hog barn, but nothing was damaged nor destroyed. There were also no injuries reported. Approximately 120 acres were burned. Fire crews remained on the scene through the night and into the afternoon on Friday to monitor any possible flare-ups.

Assisting at the scene were the Custer County Sheriff’s Office, Custer County Emergency Management, Arrow Aviation in Broken Bow, and Wells Air Service in Scotia. Fire departments that are known to have responded to the fire included Anselmo, Ansley, Arnold, Berwyn, Broken Bow, Callaway, Cozad, Eddyville, Lexington, Merna, Oconto, and Stapleton.

Trumbull urges everyone to be extremely cautious with equipment at this time as lack of moisture, low humidity, and high winds have created conditions favorable for wildfires.