The Valentine Volunteer Fire Department was called briefly to the construction site on the Minnechaduza Bridge east of Valentine on Nebraska Highway 12 Tuesday evening.
Due to incredibly dry conditions, there were a couple small fires that were ignited by equipment during the bridge removal. Although the fires were quickly put out by the construction crew on site, the fire department was asked to send a couple trucks and wet the area down including the small burn patches to prevent them from flaring up and to help prevent any future fires that evening.
Fire Chief Terry Engels asked that area residents continue to use caution while outdoors and be vigilant in watching for smoke and fires as any fires that may be lit, whether manmade or lightning could burn out of control very quickly with the dry conditions that have been prevalent over the last few weeks.