Guard called in to fight wildfires

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By Staff and Wire Reports

Nebraska National Guard troops and helicopters are responding to four wildfires in the Chadron-Harrison area in northwest Nebraska, state officials said Friday.

One wildfire outside of Whitney is being battled by a federal fire team because of its closeness to national park land. The other three, one in Chadron State Park, one north of Harrison in timber and grasslands and one south of Harrison running the ridges and grasslands, are being fought by local and state fire crews.

More than 30 Nebraska National Guard troops, including a group with firefighting expertise from Scottsbluff and Chadron and two Guard helicopters from Grand Island and Lincoln, are being deployed to provide aerial intelligence and water drops on trouble spots. Additional troops may be deployed as the situation evolves.

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“Our volunteer and professional firefighters are dealing with a very dry Nebraska because of years of drought and moisture deprivation,” Gov. Dave Heineman said Friday. “I want the citizens of northwestern and western Nebraska to know that we will complement their firefighting efforts in any way we can, and we will render aid wherever we can be of assistance.”

The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency has dispatched its incident command team and communications trailer to the region. Also, the state Fire Marshal's Office has sent its Wildland Incident Response and Assistance Team, which includes the Nebraska Forest Service. The Nebraska State Patrol is coordinating air operations.

Firefighters from across the region have been arriving to assist Chadron-area firefighters, based on mutual aid agreements, as well as teams from the U.S. Forest Service.

As of Thursday evening, NEMA had activated its 24-hour Emergency Operations Center for communications with Sioux and Dawes County emergency management officials.

The fires started around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and grew Thursday as temperatures soared, a U.S. Forest Service official said.

Temperatures in the Chadron area are expected to top 105 degrees Friday.

A Forest Service firefighter was taken to the Chadron Hospital on Thursday night for treatment of heat exhaustion.

Recently, a wildfire destroyed 10 homes and damaged 10 others near Valentine.