UPDATE: 7:47am Monday. Highway 2 has been re-opened.
A fire broke out around 1:30 pm Sunday afternoon in the Nebraska National Forest near Halsey. It’s believed to have originated from a UTV. The Region 26 Deputy Emergency Manager says between 5,000 to 6,000 acres had burned as of Sunday evening and was not contained at that time.
Stena Seamann says there are around 25 agencies at the scene Sunday including fire/rescue, local and state law enforcement departments. There was also assistance from Burlington Northern Railroad and Nebraska Department of Transportation.
Seamann says the wind has been posing a challenge in fighting and containing the fire. There were known structures affected or any injuries from the fire.
She says the Incident Commander and Region 26 Emergency Management would like to thank the community for the support they have provided and will continue to provide. They ask people to remain out of the area as the firefighters contain the fire. Highway 2 remains closed between Dunning and Thedford. Federal resources were also reported as being deployed as well.
Listen to this report with NSP Cap. Tyler Schmidt.
