Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Sidney firemen extinguish burning tires after a blowout on a portable cement batch plant resulted in a fire on I-80 Saturday. Four fire departments responded to the incident, which saw several hundred acres of grass burned.
Four fire departments responded to a fire that originated on Interstate 80 over the weekend and spread into nearby grassland, placing a feedlot and cattle nearby pastures in danger.
Sidney Volunteer Fire Department was called to the report of a semi trailer on fire just before 2 p.m. Saturday. Upon arrival at the scene, near mile marker 53 west of Sidney, firemen witnessed one of the vehicle's burning tires burst, throwing burning rubber into dry grass on the south side of the interstate, according to Keith Stone, Sidney fire chief.
While Sidney firemen concentrated on the vehicle fire, to a portable batch plant with many rubber components, Potter volunteers were called for mutual aid to fight the grass fire. Lodgepole and Peetz, CO., were called later as shifting winds whipped the grass fire.
The grass fire burned through draws and over the hill, where it burned up against the pens on the northeast corner of Dinklage Feed Yard. There, the fire was stopped short before it caused any damage. In addition, area ranchers with cattle in nearby pastures watched from across the road near the feed lot to see if they might have to move cattle.
The fire did not spread that far west, but Stone said did burn more than 300 acres of grassland before the departments got it extinguished.
Stone said the original fire to the batch plant happened when a tire blew and caught fire.
"The pilot car saw it happen and got the truck stopped then they called it in," Stone said.
The driver of the truck unhooked and pulled away from the trailer before it could sustain damage.
Stone said he hadn't seen an estimate of damage to the batch plant, but said it was extensive, with the plant's tires and loading belt burned severely. He said the plant's owners would work to determine the amount of damage. The plant had to be lifted by crane to another trailer to be taken from the scene. Loss to the field is estimated at almost $4,400. Aaron Berger, extension agent UNL Education, said the affects of the fire may impact next year's production, depending on moisture.
In all, 38 firefighters and 21 units from the four departments responded. Sidney had personnel on scene for six hours.
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