High winds lead controlled burn to scorch over 160 acres in Custer County

ANSLEY, Neb. -- The services of multiple fire departments and local agencies were required to put out a fire that started as a controlled burn before eventually burning over 160 acres in central Nebraska.

Custer County Emergency Management says a controlled burn took place in recent days leading up to the January 4 fire, but embers from the burn had not been fully extinguished.

Authorities say that Tuesday winds, which included gusts that reached as high as 49 miles per hour at various points throughout the afternoon, helped the embers ignite numerous smaller fires that spread and combined to create a larger fire. The winds continued to push the fire southeast across grass.

The fire eventually fell into a canyon, authorities say, at which point it was put out by fire crews.

No injuries were reported, but a total of 163 acres was burned in the fire.

Fire crews responding to the scene just south of Ansley included Ansley, Amherst, Arcadia, Broken Bow, Eddyville, Mason City, Miller and Sargent.

Other reporting agencies were Ansley EMS, Custer County Emergency Management, the Custer County Sheriff's Department and Dawson County Emergency Management.

See video above taken from the scene by Gavin Higgins KCNI/KBBN Radio, Broken Bow.