A tanker departs the scene of a fire near Cessna Road in Buffalo County during the early afternoon of March 28, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
ELM CREEK — The Cessna Road fire near Elm Creek was contained to under 150 acres by 15 area fire departments despite 40 mph wind gusts on Saturday, March 28.
Around 12:30 p.m., a wildfire occurred in a field near the intersection of 39th Road and Cessna Road, just north of Highway 30.
The entire state of Nebraska was under a Red Flag Warning for critical fire weather conditions on Saturday, winds were gusting out of the south at 40 mph.
Tyler Hillmer, Fire Chief with Elm Creek Volunteer Fire and Rescue, said the source of the fire appeared to be near powerlines in the area.
Hillmer said that 15 area fire departments provided mutual aid on site. Some of the departments included Kearney, Amherst, Pleasanton, Sumner, Eddyville, Miller, Gibbon, Shelton, Holdrege, Bertrand, Overton, Loomis, Lexington and others.
In addition to the firefighters, multiple farmers with tractors and discs were working to contain the fire by tilling up the ground to create a fire break.
The north fire area burned 144 acres while the south area was contained to four acres.
The fire threatened a residence north of the intersection of Cessna Road and 46th Road. Hillmer said the fire burned numerous hay bales on the property and other miscellaneous items, but all the outbuildings and other structures were saved.
The last firefighters departed the scene around 10:30 p.m.
