Fires in Nebraska, Iowa Spur Evacuations, Destroy Homes

Smoke rises from a grass fire just east of Olive Creek State Recreation Area in southwestern Lancaster County, near Hallam, Neb., on Oct. 23, 2022. Alex Lantz/Lincoln Journal Star via AP

LINCOLN, Neb.—Prairie fires pushed by tinder-dry conditions and winds topping 60 mph (96 kph) led to evacuations in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa and destroyed homes and injured two firefighters south of Nebraska’s capital city of Lincoln, officials said.

At least two grassland fires were first reported Sunday afternoon south of Lincoln and spread quickly as winds began to pick up and push the fires north, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office reported.