Springview, NE -
Crews are battling three different wildfires that started last Friday along Fairfield Creek, near Ainsworth, Nebraska.
It's now a complex of three fires that are about 50 percent contained.
Susan Ford, with the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team says "It burnt pretty hot in a couple of places."
Hot enough to destroy 10 homes in north–central Nebraska. It's also threatened more than 100 more houses and livestock.
Crews tell us thunderstorms caused the fire. It began burning Friday morning around 9 A.M., quickly spreading fast because of high winds and temperatures above 100 degrees, and very low humidity. The Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team stepped in to help on Tuesday.
"When this fire got big so fast, they sat with the state and decided that bring in an incident management team would help bring them the resources they need to fight the fire, that includes a real resources the crews, some of the organizations, and the communications. All the pieces that a team brings to that incident," Ford said.
And they came prepared, using 8 aircraft to dump water from the Niobrara River. Helicopters that are out there fighting this fire out fly in to a temporary landing area and then try to get back out there as soon as possible.
The fires grew by nearly 50 percent from Tuesday into Wednesday.
Some of these firefighters have been out close to 16 hours now, trying to put out this fire, and they say it should be out by Friday.
Ford says right now they have enough resources to battle the flames.
"We're working with local engines, we're working with state engines, and engines that came in from other fires."
But, if things get worse, they may need more help. Then they'll contact local fire districts.
If you'd like to help, a fund has been set up to raise money for recovery efforts.
Tax-deductible contributions can be made to the North Central Development Center at
335 N. Main Street
Ainsworth, NE 69210
Please write "fire relief" in the memo line.
All money donated will go to the fire departments in the area and to the victims of the fires.
