Several departments battle grass fire at Nebraska State Penitentiary in south Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Multiple fire and rescue departments battled a grass fire in south Lincoln on Friday.

Around 1 p.m., a state vehicle caught fire, according to officials.

The flames spread to the southwest corner of the Nebraska State Penitentiary due to the windy conditions.

The Department of Correctional Services said in a press release that the fire was outside the secure perimeter of the prison.

As a precautionary measure, the penitentiary was placed on lockdown for an emergency head count.

All staff and inmates are accounted for, and no one was injured, officials said.

A video sent to our NOW Local News App by a Channel 8 reporter shows the crews battling the fire.

In addition to Lincoln Fire & Rescue, crews from the Air National Guard, Malcolm Fire & Rescue, Southwest Fire and Rescue, and Hickman Fire and Rescue responded.

LFR said it needed the extra help because the wetland area was difficult to access with their engines.

The other agencies brought brush rigs to help until the fire was contained just after 3 p.m.

Fire watch will be conducted by prison maintenance crews throughout the night and for the next 24 hours.

The Nebraska State Fire Marshal was on scene, but there’s no estimate yet on the damage.