Wildfires are an ever-present danger in Nebraska, but most everyone seems to agree that this year has been exceptionally volatile. Extremely dry conditions in conjunction with above-average temperatures and strong winds have created a recipe for disaster - and last week the consequences of that mixture landed right in our backyard.

Around 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, the Callaway and Oconto fire departments were dispatched to the scene of a grass fire north of Oconto on Pressey Park Road. Within minutes the crews realized they were going to need help and called mutual aid from all Custer County departments.

“Right now us and Oconto receive simultaneous calls. It spread very quickly,” explained Callaway Fire Chief Dan Trumbull.

Trumbull said he responded to the north end of the fire in an effort to try to get ahead of it. “It was coming so fast it was hard to manage,” he added.

With many homes and outbuildings located in what appeared to be the path the fire was spreading, people began being evacuated shortly after the call came in. By 3 p.m., the fire had already spread several miles and had jumped the river, and shortly thereafter, assistance was called from Cozad and Lexington as well.

By Wednesday evening, smoke filled the sky across the region and it was a flurry of activity east and north of Callaway. Planes fighting the flames from the air had assisted the ground crews until darkness set in, and local landowners disced around their homes and properties in an attempt to save the structures.

“We used 15 task forces in three days,” said Trumbull. “There were probably close to 40 departments on Wednesday evening.”

By Thursday morning, the Pressey Fire had burned nearly 6,000 acres and had traveled approximately 12 miles, leaving a path of destruction in its wake.

“Dry conditions and strong winds caused the fire to spread rapidly to the north and northwest. Rough terrain made access and suppression efforts challenging, and the fire ultimately split into two separate head fires, with the secondary head fire mov- ing farther north. At its peak, the fire traveled approximately 12 miles north and reached an estimated width of 3 miles, burning roughly 6,000 acres,” Custer County Emergency Manager Mark Rempe said in a statement released the morning of April 23.

Rempe said that as the incident expanded, assistance was provided by multiple fire departments from across Nebraska, along with the Custer County Sheriff’s Office, Custer County Emergency Management, Custer County Communications, Custer County Highway Department, Arrow Aviation, Custer Public Power District, Nebraska State Patrol, Nebraska Game and Parks, Nebraska Brand Committee, the Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Office (WIRAT and Investigations), and the Nebraska IMAT Team.

While fire crews selflessly stood their ground between the flames and people’s homes, there were structures lost in the Pressey Fire, including a primary residence. “We did lose one home that belonged to Matt Eggleston’s mom,” Trumbull shared. “Matt’s house was the only thing left standing on that farm. There was a total of 12 structures lost in the fire.”

There was also some livestock lost, though the exact numbers for those losses were not available. “We had everything we have out there, and at least 20 members on Wednesday night,” Trumbull said. “We had pumpers watching houses and grass rigs running everywhere, and our tender truck was out there every day.”

In a press release issued Saturday evening, April 25, Rempe shared that the Pressey Fire had burned approximately 9,141 acres. Two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the Nebraska National Guard completed 82 water drops over the fire, delivering a total of 54,120 gallons of water.

Area residents have always been aware of the diligence and sacrifices our local volunteer firefighters make; however, homeowners like Sara and Brian Hogg, who live on Ryno Road, will tell you they have a whole new appreciation after watching those volunteers fight to save theirs and their neighbors’ homes.

“We are beyond thankful for all the long, hard hours everyone put in to fight these fires! Thank you just doesn't seem enough - we are truly grateful for each and every one of you!,” the couple shared.

That gratitude is something the firefighters notice and acknowledge. “We just appreciate all of the support. There isn’t a lot of negativity - this community is great that way. They dwell on what is good, not what’s bad. We just really appreciate all of the thoughts and prayers.”