VALLEY – The National Weather Service has placed 14 Nebraska and southwest Iowa counties into a red flag warning for fire danger until 7 p.m. today.

Gusty northwesterly winds combined with low humidity and ample fuel will create dangerous fire conditions. Any fires that start April 9 will be hard to control.

Area fire departments have already been responding to grass fires in recent days.

A grass fire near Peru threatened farm buildings and multiple departments were called Wednesday for a fire in Johnson County.

Plattsmouth firefighters extinguished a grass fire near the city's water tower on Wednesday.