SPRINGVIEW, Neb. (AP) – Authorities say the three wildfires that blackened nearly 120 square miles of north-central Nebraska have been fully contained.

Firefighter spokeswoman Susan Ford says 100 percent containment for the three was declared Sunday night. She said Monday that a couple of fire engines and some firefighters will remain on duty, watching for flare-ups.

Ford says the fire danger remains high, citing for example grass that “crunches like potato chips” when it’s walked on.

The main blaze, which officials called the Fairfield Creek fire, burned more than 104 square miles north and south of the Niobrara River in Keya Paha (KEE’-uh puh-HAH’) and Brown counties, and part of Cherry County.
Lightning sparked the fires on July 20. They destroyed at least 14 homes and 17 outbuildings. Only three injuries were reported.