WILSON — Traffic came to a grinding halt Oct. 29 on Interstate 70 as multiple fire departments battled a grass fire north and east of Wilson.

Wilson Fire Chief Michael Ellis said the fire started mid-afternoon near the missile silo.

“It was a power line — a short out on a power pole — that started the pole (on fire),” he said.

About 500 acres of pasture burned on both the north and south sides of interstate, Ellis said.

“I knew it was going to happen,” he said of the fire jumping the interstate.

In all, he estimates traffic was re-routed for about two hours as multiple crews battled the blaze.

“When we get on the fire line, if you don’t get it put out good, it likes to creep up around you and come around,” Ellis said.

The biggest concern was the wind, which was gusting throughout the afternoon.

“You gotta really slow down and make sure you’re putting it out as you’re going,” Ellis said.

Wind can kick up embers and reignite a fire behind the crews, endangering them.

He said Wilson had six trucks on the scene. Ellsworth Fire Chief Ralph Doubrava said the Ellsworth Volunteer Fire Department sent six trucks to the blaze.

Ellis said additional departments responded, including Lincoln, Holyrood, Dorrance, Sylvan Grove and Lucas-Lurray.

“All the volunteer fire departments, they’re willing to help out,” he said.

Considering the wind, Ellis said it is fortunate only 500 acres burned.

“When it jumped I-70, it was in a hay meadow. It was short grass, it burned up to a strip of winter wheat,” he said. “On either side was either corn or milo. If it had gotten to that, we would have had a handful.”

KAREN BONAR/Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter