KEARNEY — A semi caught fire on Interstate 80 near the Minden interchange and the flames spread to the ditch and beyond during the afternoon hours of Tuesday, Nov. 12.
At 1:30 p.m., the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to mile marker 279, just west of the Minden interchange, for the report of flames that were coming from underneath the cab of a semi that had been westbound.
On scene, Kearney firefighters found black smoke pouring from a semi that had been hauling a cattle pot pulled over to the side of the interstate with visible flames toward the near of the semi.
The fire had also spread into nearby ditch and was quickly spreading east and west, fanned by winds from the south that were blowing at 25 mph with gusts up to 37 mph, according to data from the Kearney Municipal Airport.
Flames reached the nearby field to the north and area farmers arrived with discs and a combine because the field contained standing corn.
Any possible injuries and the cause of the fire was not available on scene.
The Kearney Volunteer Fire Department was assisted on scene by the Gibbon Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Nebraska State Patrol and the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office.
