Wildfire burns almost 300 acres in Nebraska wildlife refuge

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Another wildfire has sparked in the Nebraska Sandhills.

It started Thursday afternoon off U.S. Highway 83 in the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

As of 7 a.m. Friday, the fire had burned about 283 acres of grassland.

Cherry and Keya Paha County Emergency Management said planes were called in from Broken Bow to drop water on the flames.

Juancarlos Giese, a spokesman for the refuge, said early Friday evening that the fire was 50% contained.

He said crews are working to reinforce the fire lines.

Volunteer firefighters from Ainsworth, Cody, Kilgore, Purdum, Thedford, Valentine and Wood Lake responded to the blaze.

The cause of the fire is still unknown.