DUNBAR -  Grass fires were reported within minutes of the National Weather Service’s red flag fire warning Friday and involved multiple agencies by early afternoon.

The National Weather Service alerted Otoe County Emergency Management to a possible grass fire south of Dunbar.

Otoe County Emergency Management Director said the weather service's satellite picked up a hot spot, and reported a ground flare. Goebel contacted Dunbar firefighters who confirmed the fire.

Wind gusts up to 36 mph helped the fire jump a county road and push toward the Nemaha Natural Resources District’s Prairie Owl area. Nebraska City and Talmage firefighters assisted Dunbar in the fire that burned power poles and threatened a barn with hay.

Riverton and Hamburg firefighters were called to a ditch fire shortly after the Red Flag Warning started at 10 a.m.

 

In the afternoon, Plattsmouth, Cedar Creek and Murray firefighters were asked for mutual aid to Louisville for a fire in a tree line. Murray firefighters had earlier been called to a brush pile fire out of control. A smoldering fire was reported at the Village of Douglas burn pile.

Johnson grass rigs and tankers assisted Auburn with a grass fire near the Coryell Park Road.

A red flag fire warning is in effect for northwest Missouri, southwest Iowa and portions southeast Nebraska until 8 p.m. today.

Northwest winds of 20 to 35 mph are expected with relative humidity as low as 19 to 25 percent.

 

The National Weather Service says any fire that develops will likely spread rapidly. Moisture content in dead vegetation is indicated at less than 10 percent.

The Nebraska Forest Service has all of Nebraska in very high to extreme fire danger for today.

2:37 p.m. - Douglas Palmyra fire and rescue call road  I and 6 grass fire.