One person was killed and two others were critically burned while working on a controlled burn near Trenton, Nebraska (map) on April 28. A spokesman for the State Fire Marshall, Ray Nance, said none of the three were firefighters, but were “residents who fell victim to the fire” while they were clearing cattle grazing land. Nance said winds sent the fire out of control.
Here is more information from the McCook Daily Gazette, dated April 29, 2011:
TRENTON, Nebraska — A controlled burn on a rural farm northwest of Trenton, Nebraska, went horribly wrong late Thursday afternoon, resulting in the death of one and severe burn injuries to two others.
Hitchcock County Sheriff D. Bryan Leggott reported this morning that Theresa L. Borges Schnoor, 46 years old, of Trenton died at the fire scene eight miles northwest of Trenton.
Two Trenton men, 40-year-old Robert A. Seybold and 36-year-old Anthony P. Meguire were critically burned while assisting with the prescribed burn, and were transported to Community Hospital of McCook by Trenton ambulance. They were then flown to the Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center Burn Center in Lincoln.
This morning, both Seybold and Meguire were listed in critical condition.
Leggott said his office and the Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s office are conducting the investigation.
We offer our sincere condolences to the families and co-workers.
