     After spending much of the day and night on Tuesday battling a grass fire about 17-miles southwest of Alliance, crews from multiple agencies across the Panhandle returned Wednesday morning when it flared up again.Â
     The Schiff Fire was estimated at 8,600 acres Tues night and Incident Commander and Alliance Fire Chief Troy Shoemaker said on his department’s Facebook page Wed afternoon that mapping was underway for a more precise estimate.
The initial call came in at 8:48 Tuesday morning from the extreme southwestern corner of Box Butte County, but the fire crossed the Box Butte-Morrill County line at Road 140 and mutual aid requests went out.
      Most fire departments and other agencies in the Panhandle. A disaster declaration was signed, opening the way for state resources. An aerial applicator from Grant made water drops and a heavy air tanker was requested from Colorado. The Nebraska Wildland Incident Response Assistance Team was activated as well
      Chief Shoemaker said crews were able to contain the first last evening and most were released late Tues night, but many were called back shortly after 9:30 Wed morning after the wind re-ignited smoldering embers.Â
     Shoemaker said he’s received no reports on any structures or livestock lost to the fire. The cause of the fire had yet to be officially determined, but a dry lightning strike Monday night or power lines downed by strong winds seemed most likely.