Fire near Whiteclay, Nebraska burns 200 acres

WHITECLAY, Neb. - A fire near Whiteclay, Nebraska burned around 200 acres. Rushville Fire Chief Keith Wellnitz said lightning caused the fire six miles west of Whiteclay early Friday morning. Firefighters were on scene until Sunday.

 

“We’re getting really dry in Sheridan County. We were called out to a small fire Monday night too,” Wellnitz said.

The fire, which has been named the Hubbard-Butte fire, burned pasture land and timber, but did not cause any damage to buildings.

Last week News Channel Nebraska reported on how the Sandhills is preparing for a potential fire season. A single engine air tanker, or SEAT, is now stationed in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. The plane can deliver up to 800 gallons of fire retardant to support firefighters on the ground.

The U.S. Drought Monitor indicates that parts of Sheridan County are abnormally dry. Much of Dawes and Box Butte counties are also abnormally dry or experiencing moderate drought, with all of Sioux County now considered in a moderate drought.