Chase Christen, 40 years of age, of Broken Bow, passed away at Jennie M. Melham Memorial Medical Center in Broken Bow on Thursday, Dec. 19, due to an accident while helping neighbors move cattle to safety ahead of a large grass fire near Broken Bow.

According to a press release issued Dec. 19 from Broken Bow City Administrator David Schmidt the Broken Bow Fire Department was dispatched to a grass fire near the intersection of Gates Road and Round Valley Road north of Broken Bow. Winds gusting to near 40 miles per hour exacerbated the situation as the fire spread quickly to the southeast. Mutual aid was utilized from all Custer County fire departments as well as neighboring agencies with more than 30 departments participating.

The fire has been determined to be an accident by State Fire Marshal Investigators. During a press conference held Friday afternoon, Custer County Emergency Manager Mark Rempe said that the blaze had grown to an estimated 2,800 acres.

As of early Friday afternoon, the fire was reported to be 35% contained and forward progress of the fire had been stopped. Fire crews continued to execute firefighting, burnout operations, and monitoring as of Friday afternoon. Broken Bow Fire Chief Dustin Watson said that three uninhabited structures were lost as a result of the fire.

Although Round Valley Road and Highway 70 were never closed during the fire, Watson asked the public to avoid the areas if possible. He also confirmed that the blaze did not reach Highway 2.

As crews continued to fight the Round Valley Road fire the Broken Bow Fire Department received a call of another fire in the same vicinity, near Road 803 on Sunday afternoon. That call came in around 12:30 p.m. and mutual aid was called from surrounding departments soon after. However, unofficial reports state that the second fire was brought under control and put out rather quickly.

As of Sunday evening all reports indicated both fires were out. Rempe, Watson, and Chief Deputy Adam Miller thanked the public for the donations that came into the fire station and the general support they received from the public.

On Sunday, Rempe issued the following statement on behalf of Custer County Emergency Management: “We would like to send out a HUGE THANK YOU to all the Fire Departments and Nebraska State fire employees who came and helped on the fire here in Broken Bow on Dec 19, 2024. Also, to the crews who stayed overnight and watched the fire through the cold night. We appreciate all the help from any of the volunteers who brought water and food to all the awesome men and women fighting the blaze. THANK YOU ALL AND HAVE A SAFE MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.”