A string of fires are burning in the hills north of U.S. Highway 30 from Lake McConaughy to Sutherland, evidently started by lightning.

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The first fires were reported Thursday around 5 p.m. Central Time, an Ogallala dispatcher said.

“We have fires burning virtually everywhere,” he said at 10 p.m. “Bayside Golf Course, the Arthur-Keith county line, north of Paxton and in McPherson County.”

Sutherland residents reported at least one fire in the hills north of the village.

The fires are in rural areas. No buildings or lives have been reported lost, according to four sources of information, but reports are sketchy.

Volunteer firefighters from surrounding communities responded to calls for help. North Platte sent three units to the Hershey-Sutherland area, Battalion Chief Dave Heitman said.

The thunderstorm moved east through North Platte around 9 p.m., dropping only a sprinkle of rain.