Cell phone image of fire from a distance.

Seven fire districts battled high winds Tuesday afternoon as they brought a fire under control on northeastern Dawson County. Firemen were summoned at 2:44pm for a cornstalk fire about 7 miles southwest of Sumner. Dawson County Emergency Manager Brian Woldt was pleased with the efforts of the fire departments, farmers with discs and a crop duster that provided water drops. Northerly winds of 20 miles an hour, with gusts in the low 30's, pushed the fire into pastureland for about 3 miles. Woldt said there was no damage to structures although a building on an abandoned farmstead burned.

The fire is believed to have started from the back end of a combine during harvest operations. It was brought under control before 6:00pm with some hotspots remaining to put out. Fire districts reponding included Overton, Sumner, Eddyville, Miller, Elm Creek, Lexington and Cozad.

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