Wildfire Chars Farmland Sunday Northwest of Waverly

WAVERLY–(KFOR Oct. 14)–Fire crews from 14 different departments across Lancaster and portions of Saunders and Cass counties on Sunday afternoon battled a wildfire that burned between 250 and 300 acres of land of harvested and standing crops northwest of Waverly.

Crews were called to the area between 84th and 98th Streets from Raymond to Branched Oak Roads about the grass fire. According to a Facebook post from Waverly Fire and Rescue, the fire grew in size due to northwesterly winds at 20 to 25 mph. Soon after Ceresco Fire & Rescue had arrived, the fire jumped Branched Oak Road into the adjacent soybean field, that appeared to have been harvested. Due to the wind fueled fire conditions, and nearing to jump 84th Street, Waverly fire officials said was decided to declare an all county incident to get additional resources responding to contain the fire.

View of the charred farmland from Sunday afternoon’s wildfire northwest of Waverly. This is looking south and west from the area of 84th and Branched Oak Road. Courtesy of Jeff Motz, KFOR News. pic.twitter.com/aiVjsIHcJS

— KFOR Radio (@KFORRADIO) October 13, 2024

At one point, firefighters, sheriff’s deputies and State Troopers had to evacuate people living between the 9100 block and 9800 block of Branched Oak Road. It took about three-and-a-half hours to gain control of the fire, which burned 250 to 300 acres of harvested and standing crops.

No homes were damaged and no one was hurt. Authorities believe the fire was related to a combine bearing overheating while a field was being harvested.