Crews make progress against forest fire

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By The Associated Press

HALSEY — About 100 firefighters were targeting hotspots Tuesday as they continue battling a fire in the Nebraska National Forest.

The Four Corners Fire was 70 percent contained Tuesday morning, and cooler temperatures and higher humidity aided firefighters, said Jerry Schumacher, a spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service.

Also Tuesday, authorities reduced their estimate of the fire’s size from almost 10,000 acres to about 5,600.

Schumacher said the new figure was based on a satellite survey conducted Monday.

Workers are focusing on putting out fire hotspots, such as tree stump holes and burning logs, Schumacher said.

If progress continues to be made against the fire, Schumacher said the number of firefighters at the scene would decrease.

Brenda Bowen, fire information officer, said the night team had been dissolved and other volunteers are expected to return home Wednesday.

The fire is believed to have been human caused, Schumacher said, and investigators want to talk to anyone who was in the area between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. Sunday.

Flames spread through woods and grasslands near Halsey, about 60 miles northeast of North Platte, but did not damage any buildings or property except a few fence posts, Schumacher said.

Authorities praised the quick response of local volunteer fire departments.

Volunteer firefighters from Hyannis, Mullen, Thedford, Halsey, Dunning and Arnold were among those responding, District Ranger Patti Barney said Monday.

“We have lots of help with this,” she said.