Wildfires burn 6,000 acres in central Nebraska; two firefighters injured in crash

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Multiple wildfires raged in central Nebraska on Monday, burning thousands of acres.

Custer County Emergency Manager Mark Rempe said in a press release that eight separate fires were initially reported in the county.

But some of those fires merged, he said.

As of 5 p.m., firefighters had contained three fires and were still battling three others.

Rempe said that more than 6,000 acres have been burned and that several homes are being threatened by the blazes.

All fire departments in Custer County, as well as some from nearby counties, are responding.

Rempe said four airplanes were being used to fight the flames.

The Broken Bow Fire Department said two firefighters have been injured.

A firetruck responding to one of the fires rolled into a canyon, according to the department.

One firefighter was flown to a trauma center; the other was taken by ambulance to a local hospital.

The fire department urged drivers to give fire vehicles “ample space.”