Yesterday was the end of National Fire Prevention Week and the day of the annual Chadron Volunteer Fire Department Open House and free will Spaghetti Feed, but the event was cut short by a mutual aid fire call from Crawford a little after 1:00.
Chadron Fire Chief Branden Martens says the fire burned about 360 acres along Highway 20 between Chadron and Crawford near Haines Road, eventually reaching Indian Creek.
Martens, who headed up the eastside attack while Crawford Fire Chief Brian Prosser had overall and westside command, says crews did a great job as they battled winds of 30-60 mph during the first hour and no less than 20-40 mph most of the rest of the time.
Martens says mutual aid units came from several area departments including Gordon, Rushville, and Hemingford as well as Chadron. He’s not sure who responded with Crawford on the westside attack, and Hay Springs was responding to its own fire.
As for the Open House and Spaghetti Feed, Chief Martens says the main rush of visitors had already passed when the fire call came in, so he believes most people who planned to attend did.
He also says he and all the members of the Chadron Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad appreciate the support shown by all those who turned out and especially those who made donations.