Cross Fire Southwest Of Scottsbluff Nearly 2,500 Acres

Photo – Dave Strang/KNEB/RRN

     Fire officials had hoped to contain the Cross Fire southwest of Scottsbluff Thursday, but instead it more than tripled in size and was estimated at 6:00 PM as having burned 2,460 acres.

       Some of the growth yesterday was from burnouts done by firefighters to deny fuel to the blaze, which began as a grass fire about 11:30 Wednesday but was quickly blown into hills and canyons on the south side of the Wildcat Hills.

       Gering Fire Chief Nathan Flowers says ground crews from Nebraska and Wyoming are still being supported by 3 single-engine air tankers –  SEAT planes for short, along with an air attack coordination aircraft.

     Also helping out, as it did last weekend on the Hackberry Fire in Banner and Morrill Counties, is a 5-member state wildfire incident response assist team that works with logistical and support needs.