No injuries as trees and brush catch fire in Kearney backyard

KEARNEY, NE — Nobody is injured after a fire in northwest Kearney sent a tower of black smoke into the sky.

The Kearney Volunteer Fire Department responded to the area of 30th Avenue and West 52nd street around 1:40 Monday afternoon. Fire officials say a cluster of trees and grass caught fire and quickly sent up a significant amount of smoke. Nobody was injured and the house didn’t sustain any damage. The fire was started by discarded embers from a fire pit used the night before. Firefighters were on the scene for about 50 minutes.

Fire officials want to remind people to soak a fire pit with water before discarding any embers or fire material.