80 acre blaze near Rockford contained

A combine clipped a low-hanging power line that started an 80-acre blaze south of Rockford on Thursday. The fire sparked at 11:30 a.m. and burned about 68 acres of wheat and peas, plus 12 acres of timber, a Department of Natural Resources spokesman said. DNR officials believe an employee of the farm drove the combine that clipped the power line. Aircraft dumped water and retardant on the blaze. Firefighters will monitor the site over the next few days because the stands of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir are thick, and about 100 feet tall, said the DNR spokesman. At this time, there are no injured people or structures, although a home is located within 400 feet of the fire.