A Kearney Volunteer Fire Department grass rig fighting the grass fire near the Union Pacific railroad tracks on March 12, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY — Area fire departments were fighting a grass fire amid Red Flag Warning conditions near Evergreen Road, along the Union Pacific Railroad tracks west of Kearney during the afternoon hours of Thursday, March 12.
Around 3:24 p.m., the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched near the intersection of Evergreen Road and 17th Road for the report of a grass fire in progress.
The Elm Creek Volunteer Fire Department would be paged to provide mutual aid.
The fire appeared to originate near Evergreen Road and was moving to the east, owing to strong wind gusts out of the west. Fire crews were working alongside the Union Pacific Railroad tracks and train traffic from both directions was stopped.
Fire crews were utilizing a command post on Evergreen Road near the railroad tracks, while tankers needing to refill were utilizing fire hydrants on the west side of Kearney.
Grass rigs were moving up and down the side of the tracks, working on containing the fire.
The National Weather Service – Hastings had issued a Red Flag Waring for critical fire weather conditions, owning to sustained winds of 25-40 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. Relative humidity was also as low as 13 percent near Kearney.
