Tank battery fire

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette

A battery of three tanks lays crumpled and scorched inside and outside a berm located north of McCook, Nebraska, south of Hugh Butler Lake and northeast of the old Army Air Base this morning. Neighbors reported an explosion and fire, and Red Willow Western Rural Fire Department firefighters responded about 8:30 p.m., Monday. RWW Fire Chief Bill Elliott said this morning that they suspect the cause of the fire to be a heater inside one of the tanks, which are owned by Jim Kenny. Elliott said fighting the fire, with foam, "was no trouble," but keeping it out was tough, having to deal with oil inside an upright tank that reignited. The tank was finally tipped over and drained, he said. The tank in the foreground was blown outside the berm. Elliott had no estimate of damages this morning. Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas are under "red flag" warnings issued by the National Weather Service, meaning high winds and dry conditions increase the danger of grass fires.