Neligh Fire Chief Issues A Warning After Second Call In Two Days

After fighting their second fire in as many days, Neligh Fire Chief Mike Mortensen offered a warning to Antelope County residents on Saturday afternoon.

“People need to be careful,” Mortensen said. “It’s drier than you think on top. It’s wet underneath, but if something gets started, it’ll go fast.”

Saturday’s fire was located five miles north of Highway 14, three miles east and 1/2 mile north in a ditch along a cornfield.  About five or six acres burned.

​Mortensen said he’s not certain as to the cause, but he has his suspicions.

“I’m guessing either someone tossed a disregarded cigarette butt or somebody had problems with their vehicle,” Mortensen said. “I don’t
know for sure, but I’m guessing it was a cigarette.”

Friday’s fire was very similar and burned a spot about 100 feet in diameter north of Neligh on River Road.

“Yesterday could have been a bad one, too, because it was at a cornfield,” Mortensen said. “It was started underneath a cottonwood tree, but the witness said it started at 10 or 20 foot (away) and started burning out. It was a ways from the ditch, so I’m not sure what started that.”
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There were no injuries in either fire. ​