From KVSH.com:
Two veteran Valentine [Nebraska] Volunteer Firefighters were injured while battling a wild fire near Thedford on Friday. JD Osburn and Warren Rockwell were on the back of a Valentine rural fire fighting rig when the truck was trapped by the 50mph wind blown flames. Both men were wearing their complete wildland fire gear which helped to protect them. They were checked out by emergency medical personel on the scene and transported back to the Valentine Firehall on the fire truck. After arriving in Valentine, both men were taken to the Cherry County Hospital for assessment. Warren Rockwell was transferred to the Saint Elizabeth Burn Unit in Lincoln for futher assessment. JD Osburn was held for observation at the Cherry County Hospital.
Several hundred fire fighters from across central Nebraska were called to that large grass fire west of Thedford. Over 25 departments were involved including an aircraft that helped bring the fire under control about 6pm Friday evening. The fire is believed to have started on the Mike Finney place about 9 miles west of Thedford. Fueled by wind gusts of 50mph, the blaze raced for about 7.5 miles before it was finally contained about 1.5 miles west of Thedford. An estimated 11,000 acres were burned. The cause of the balze is not know at this time.
Our thoughts are with these firefighters, their families, and their fellow firefighters.
