Courtesy Photo­Image Three fires, Niobrara River Valley

On Thursday afternoon, one of the fires buring in the Niobrara River Valley ran more than 2,479 acres to the southeast, nearly reaching the Niobrara River.

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Crews worked through the night constructing fire lines and protecting structures, according to the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency.

That was the worst that happened at the fire lines there Thursday. Otherwise, good progress was made on three major fires, securing the lines, mopping up and patrolling, NEMA said.

During the night, temperatures dropped into 50s and the relative humidity reached 90 percent, cooling all the fires. On Friday morning, firefighters took advantage of cooler temperatures and high relative humidity to construct fire lines around the unsecured sections of the fires.

Officials hope the fires will be completely contained by July 30.

Lightening started the fires on July 20.

In all, 72,405 acres have burned. (Fairfield 66,745; Wentworth, 5,757; Hall, 2,382)

There are 438 federal firefighters battling the fires, plus approximately 40 rural firefighters, NEMA said. That make nine crews on the fire line.

Seven helicopters are fighting the fires from above, with 45 fire engines on the ground, NEMA said.