KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) -- About 80 firefighters from Kearney, Gibbon and Minden were called to battle a large grass fire Monday afternoon at a youth camp near Kearney.
Fire administrator Ken Tracy with the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department said crews were called at 2:52 p.m. CDT to the Nebraska Youth Camp, three miles east of Kearney.
Tracy said the fire burned 25-30 acres before crews could contain the fire. Firefighters had the blaze contained, but not yet controlled, at about 5 p.m.
The fire started on the south side of Interstate 80. Winds gusting to speeds of 38 miles per hour fanned the flames over the interstate as the firefighters worked in a 97 degree temperatures.
Fire officials reported heavy smoke from 30- to 50-foot flames, resulting in near zero visibility on the interstate.
Deb Collins, a spokeswoman for the Nebraska State Patrol, said troopers were in the area to provide traffic control because of the visibility.
Fire officials reported that all campers at the camp were accounted for.
Tracy said seven pickups fitted with water tanks, six water tankers and four personnel carriers responded to the fire.
The cause of the fire is unknown, he said.
