‘I cried, just cried’: Wildfires threaten homes and farmland in Nebraska
By Beth Carlson
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ASHBY, Nebraska (KETV) — A new wave of wildfires hit central Nebraska Thursday, causing evacuations as crews worked to contain the Ashby and Minor fires.
As of Sunday, the Ashby Fire is now 51% contained and the Minor Fire is now 30% contained, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Combined, they total more than 64,000 acres.
“We had to experience this two weeks ago with the Morrill fire, which came within 20 miles of our home, and we had evacuated twice. And so, everybody took a breath and said, OK, we’re in the clear,” Linda Lacy, who lives near Ashby, said.
But early Thursday morning, residents were evacuated in the early hours of the Ashby wildfire. Lacy and her husband returned home to a nightmare.
“It was totally black, totally black, both sides of the highway for as far as you could see. It was just devastating,” Lacy said.
She said the flames came within feet of their home. But miraculously, their family home was untouched.
“It just missed it by feet, not yards, feet. And, the wind shifted, went back out and went straight east and just a half mile to the east, it totally took out our neighbor’s home,” Lacy said.
She said it’s nothing short of a miracle.
“It’s like God took a big, huge bucket and turned it upside down and put it over my house and protected it because it’s black all the way around,” Lacy said.
Cody Rohrig worked tirelessly with crews from the Gordon Volunteer Fire Department on the Morrill Fire. Now, they’re responding to the Ashby Fire.
“We’re going to be in this for quite a while, so we’re making sure we’re prepared for it. With the fuel loads that we have out there in the fields right now, it’s not a matter of if, but when, honestly,” Rohrig said.
Rohrig said the lack of moisture and the high winds mean the area could face even more fires. But he said his crews are prepared for what’s to come.
“It’s going to happen again. I’ve never seen some of these fuel lines or fire lines as long as they’ve ever been. So that’s something new to me,” Rohrig said.
In moments of darkness, both Rohrig and Lacy say they’ve seen their community support one another.
“I don’t know how many ranchers I’ve seen with their own personal vehicles out there fighting with black, ashed-out faces. They’re in there with the rest of us, fighting alongside us,” Rohrig said.
“The Sandhills are tough, and we’re all pulling together, helping each other, supporting each other, doing anything we can for everyone,” Lacy said.
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