Grass fire

Officials say several hundred acres of grassland burned in southeastern Sioux County on Friday, August 2, drawing a heavy response from fire crews. Fire Chief Carissa Schank-Grubbs says at about 5:47 p.m., Scottsbluff Rural Fire was dispatched to a large grass fire in Sioux County on Sugar Factory Road. The blaze, dubbed the Sugar Fire, was wind driven, in difficult terrain, and threatening multiple structures, prompting response from a helicopter and a SEAT to assist in holding the line and extinguishment. Mutual aid was called from Gering, Minatare, Mitchell, Morrill, Scottsbluff Fire, Western Nebraska Regional Airport and Lyman/Kiowa, with Sioux County Roads Department assisting with heavy machinery. Scottsbluff County Sheriff’s Department and Nebraska Game and Parks assisted with evacuations and traffic control. The fire is believed to have been started by lightning and consumed 314 acres but all structures were saved. All units cleared scene around 11:30pm.