Fire burns nearly 50 acres near Highway 81 north of Pierce
Firefighters in northeast Nebraska were busy Tuesday afternoon as a blaze burned around 50 acres along Highway 81 near Pierce.
PIERCE, Neb. - Firefighters in northeast Nebraska were busy Tuesday afternoon as a blaze burned around 50 acres along Highway 81 near Pierce.
Dispatch received a report of a ditch fire at 12:08 p.m., about 10 miles northeast of Pierce.
During the fire, law enforcement temporarily diverted northbound traffic on Highway 81 to County Road 857.
Pierce Fire and Rescue Chief Steve Dolesh says the fire threatened a nearby property, but no buildings were damaged.
Crews were able to contain the flames near the home before shifting their focus just south of the area, where a second fire was burning more intensely in a creek ravine.
Dolesh says they are still investigating how the fire started, but he believes it could be due to chains being dragged along the highway sparking dry vegetation. Randolph and Carroll fire crews helped assist with the blaze.