Large grass fire near Greenwood sparked by combine harvesting beans

GREENWOOD, Neb. (KOLN) - A fast-moving wildfire that erupted southwest of Greenwood Thursday has been contained after burning through more than 140 acres of farmland, prompting road closures and temporary evacuations.

Multiple fire departments were called out to the fire near North 190th Street and Mill Road just after 11:10 a.m.

Lancaster County Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said the fire was started by a combine harvesting beans.

Highway 6 was shut down from North 148th Street to Greenwood due to the fire but it has since reopened. During the blaze, deputies knocked on doors and asked anyone in the fire’s path to evacuate. A shelter in place order was issued for the village of Greenwood but was lifted around 1 p.m.

“They were very concerned with Greenwood for awhile and an anhydrous plant that we did not want it to get to,” Houchin said.

Fortunately, no one was injured and no structures were damaged.

The fire burned 120 acres of grass, bean and corn stubble, along with 20 acres of unharvested beans. The combine is a total loss.

Fire departments from Ashland, Bennet, Ceresco, Eagle, Firth, Gretna, Hallam, Malcolm, Pleasant Dale, Raymond and Waverly were called in to assist with the blaze.

“The sheriff’s office would like to thank the Nebraska State Patrol and all the volunteer fire departments along with the farmers that came and helped put out the fire with their equipment,” Houchin said.

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