Firefighters making headway against Neb. blazes

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Authorities say firefighters are making good headway against wildfires that have blackened nearly 260 acres of rugged land in northwest Nebraska and neighboring South Dakota.

Officials say the so-called Douthit fire northwest of Crawford, Neb., has damaged nearly 46 1/2 square miles and is all but contained. The West Ash fire has charred more than 91 square miles east of Crawford.

Federal fire spokeswoman Patricia Bean said Monday that the two fires are a combined 75 percent contained and that full containment is expected by Thursday, or even sooner.

Following a new aerial survey on Sunday, officials lowered the damage figure to about 120 square miles for the Wellnitz fire burning north of Rushville, Neb., down from the 150 square miles in earlier estimates for both states.

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