By KALIN KROHE
Panhandle Post
UPDATE: 4/15/22 1:12 p.m.
Highway 71 from Harrisburg to Kimball and Highway 88 westbound from Bridgeport to Highway 71 is now open and safe for drivers.
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Highway 71 from Harrisburg to Kimball and Highway 88 westbound from Bridgeport to Highway 71 will remain closed due to a military vehicle fire cleanup, according to NDOT D5 Operations Maintence Manager John Lutz.
A team from the 90th Explosive Ordnance Disposal flight assigned to F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, conducted a series of controlled detonations on April 12 to render the scene of a totaled Humvee safe following a fire while the vehicle was transiting Highway 71 near the city of Kimball on April 11. Residents may heard had several detonations throughout the day.
Nebraska State Patrol has closed the highway in the interest of public safety. Security forces Airmen from the 790th Missile Security Forces Squadron at F.E. Warren AFB remain on scene to secure the vehicle.
Security forces Airmen assigned to the 790 MSFS safely egressed the vehicle near mile marker 23 after noticing flames while transiting the highway. However, they were unable to remove ammunition, to include 40 mm grenades, from the burning vehicle due to the intensity of the flames.
The Airmen quickly contacted local emergency responders and established a safety cordon.
The Kimball Sheriff and fire departments as well as Nebraska State Patrol and Department of Transportation all responded to the scene.
Kimball County emergency officials extinguished the flames from the vehicle, and nearby grass and field areas following the fire.
No injuries were reported in the incident.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time, and the incident is under investigation.