Lightning sparks two fires near Valentine

VALENTINE, Neb. - Valentine firefighters had a busy start to their Thursday, responding to two separate fires. According to Fire Chief Terry Engles, lightning sparked both fires.

The first call came in around 6 a.m. for a small grass fire 16 miles south of Valentine. Firefighters quickly contained the fire, spending about half an hour on the scene.

Engles said that a second fire started after lightning struck a tree about four miles east of Valentine along Highway 12, setting off a grass fire in a canyon area. The call came in shortly after 7 a.m., and firefighters were on the scene for nearly an hour to ensure the fire was fully extinguished.

“These were two small fires, and let’s keep it that way,” Engles said. “After one of these storms, we need to stay alert because once it warms up and dries off, there’s a chance something could be smoldering. Vigilance is key.”