Howard County grass fire highlights risks of prescribed burns in central Nebraska

ELBA, Neb. (KSNB) — A grass fire in Howard County this week drew attention to the risks of prescribed burns and other causes of grass fires in central Nebraska.

Elba Fire Department Chief Randy Faaborg said the fire started during a prescribed burn — a controlled burn used to maintain pastureland.

“Fuel can load the grass and burn the top of it off,” Faaborg said, “And it could still creep under the ground. I believed that’s what happened.”

The fire did burn several acres of land. However, no one was hurt in the fire.

Weather conditions play a role

Travis Keene, a volunteer firefighter with the Grand Island Fire Department, said weather conditions can quickly change the outcome of a controlled burn.

“It depends if the humidity is really low, and you have these gusty winds,” Keene said. “Wind could take the fire.”

Multiple causes of grass fires

Faaborg said prescribed burns are not the only source of grass fires in the area.

“It could be lightning strikes, some of our ATVs,” Faaborg said. “Catalytic converters have all started fires before.”

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