Nebraska forest fire close to being out - KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

Ranger Tim Buskirk with the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands says firefighters made substantial progress Tuesday against the blaze at the Nebraska National Forest, about 22 miles southeast of Halsey.

Buskirk said Wednesday that the fire did not damage any park structures, outbuildings, or private land. The fire is nearly 100 percent contained, having burned more than 1,000 acres.

Recently, officials held a controlled burn to thin the forest, which kept the fire from spreading too quickly and helped prevent more widespread damage.

The fire started with a lightning strike Saturday in the Nebraska Sandhills during a mid-day storm.

Investigators will spend the next several days surveying the damage to see if trees need to be replanted. Officials have not estimated damage costs.

Buskirk says firefighters should be able to finish the job Wednesday. Five fire engines have been reassigned to fires in Wyoming and South Dakota.

Other firefighters plan to focus on making sure no one sets off fireworks, which are banned in national parks.