KEARNEY, Neb. — An electrical arc is to blame for starting a wildfire that burned hundreds of acres and destroyed a home over the weekend.

Kearney Volunteer Fire Department responded to a report of a fire in a tree line on Dove Hill Road about two miles northwest of Riverdale, which is a small town north of Kearney. According to a fire department news release, fire officials requested mutual aid from several neighboring departments and the State Wildland Incident Response and Assistance Team.

The release says fire spread rapidly because of dry vegetation, 40-45 mph winds and shifts in wind direction. Firefighters set up multiple water supply locations to service brush trucks and other fire apparatus. Firefighters fought the blaze from several different directions in an attempt to extinguish field fires and protect nearby structures.

According to the release, it took several hours to bring the fire under control. It burned about 640 acres. One home, one shop, one bard and a Kearney Fire Department brush truck were all lost in the blaze. Two firefighters were treated at a local hospital for minor injuries. No civilians were hurt.

"We are so very thankful for all of the assisting fire departments, agencies, businesses, farmers, volunteers, and those who donated food and drinks for our responders,” Kearney Deputy Fire Chief Jason Whalen said. “This took everyone to bring under control and we are so thankful that there were no serious injuries. We would like to send our deepest condolences to everyone impacted by this devastating fire, especially the Wietjes family who lost their home."

Investigators determined that a tree branch rubbed a secondary power line and caused an electrical arc. The sparks from the arc ignited the dry vegetation and spread quickly.

In all, about 27 departments responded to assist in fighting the fire. About a dozen farmers helped by discing fields to make fire breaks and local ag companies responded with water tankers to assist with water supply.