Seward County fire started by abandoned camper, officials say

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Several rural fire departments are battling a grass fire started by a camper in Seward County on Saturday.

Sgt. Troy Schaefer with the Seward County Sheriff’s Office said a camper caught fire while a driver was towing it.

The camper was then abandoned – still on fire – on the side of the road.

Wind carried embers from the camper onto a nearby corn field.

The Seward County Sheriff’s Office asked residents north of Interstate 80 between 238th Road and 140th Road to evacuate for a time.

Around 5:45 p.m., the office posted on FaceBook that residents could return, but advised them to stay keep an eye out for hot spots.

The sheriff’s office said the “main area of concern” is 196th and Holdrege.

The Nebraska State Patrol reported that I-80 was closed at mile marker 382 for some time, but all lanes have since been reopened.

The sheriff’s office recovered the license plate of the vehicle, and an investigation is underway.

This is a developing story. Check with Channel 8 for updates.