Quick responses by the Chadron Volunteer Fire Department over the past 3 days are being credited to keeping a grease fire in an apartment and a chimney fire in a rural residence from doing any structural damage.
Fire Chief Branden Martens says a call came in just before 2:30 Sunday afternoon of heavy smoke coming from an apartment in the 500 block of Main Street in Chadron.
The first firefighters to arrive found a grease fire in a kitchen had spread to the cabinets, but Chief Martens says they quickly knocked down the blaze and prevented any damage to the walls or ceiling, although there was significant smoke damage.
Martens says he’s very proud of the quick response and pleased that the fire was extinguished so quickly that a dog who was hiding in the kitchen was found and rescued without suffering any injury.
He also credits the Chadron Police Department for aiding the other residents of the apartment building in getting out before the first firefighters arrived. All were allowed to return within a couple hours except the occupant of the burned unit.
The police department provided her with a motel voucher for Sunday night with the Red Cross helping arrange long-term housing.
The chimney fire occurred early Tuesday afternoon on Deadhorse Road southwest of Chadron. Because of the potential for structural damage, the Crawford fire department sent an additional tender for mutual aid.
Martens says the fire is a good reminder to everyone who uses a fireplace or wood stove for heating to make sure the chimney is clean before the serious portion of the heating season arrives.