Generator Blamed For Cornfield Fire North Of Neligh

The Neligh Volunteer Fire Department responded to a cornfield fire northwest of Neligh on Monday night.

Twenty-four firefighters and nine trucks responded to the blaze five miles north and 1 1/4 miles west on property owned by Leonard Miller of Neligh, according to Assistant Fire Chief Dave Jacobsen.

The fire was called in at 9:13 p.m. and firefighters were on scene just under an hour. Jacobsen said a portable generator used for a small well in the middle of a picked cornfield led the fire.

He said it appeared hot exhaust is to blame for the fire, which actually may have smoldered for several hours before the wind caught it. He said the motor was not running when firefighters arrived. Jacobsen said about two acres of the picked field burned and the only damage was to the generator itself. 

Also responding to the fire was the Neligh Rescue and the Neligh Police Department. No injuries were reported.