A man was severely burned as the result of a grass fire Tuesday a few miles northeast of Beatrice.

According to Beatrice Fire Chief Brian Daake, a controlled burn went out of control over the noon hour and ignited a pickup truck in the area.

At the scene, Sandy Johnson said the victim is her father-in-law, 83-year old William Johnson of Filley, Nebraska. She said Johnson tried to put the fire out and suffered burns from the waist down. He was life-flighted to St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Lincoln where he is listed in critical condition.