Federal firefighters have completely taken over southwestern Nebraska’s 702 wildfire, which is now 47% contained, according to Rocky Mountain Incident Command.
The federal involvement will provide a much needed break for local fire officials, according to town leaders. The now depleting 702 fire in Furnas and Red Willow counties burned an estimated more than 41,000 acres, as of late Monday night. Most of what is still burning on Monday lies in low-wooded areas – like near the Republican River and wooded draws south of Cambridge.
Fire crews have contained the fire's northern edge from Bartley to Cambridge and southern edge from Lebanon to Wilsonville and south to the Kansas border.
Cambridge mayor David Gunderson and fire chief Delaine Soucie said Monday afternoon they're more optimistic about the fires than any day before. They also looked forward to the local volunteer fire crews taking a much-needed break.
"It allowed all of our volunteer firefighters to go back decompress," Gunderson said. "Be with their family that they've been away from for 48 hours fighting the fire."
A reported six homes have been damaged in the 702 fire, according to state officials.
Pam Frecks and her husband farm south of Cambridge, which sits near the county line. The couple didn’t lose their home – but they were very close to losing it. The fire stopped about 100 feet short of the Frecks' home.
"Thought it was a miracle," Frecks said. "Praise God. That’s what we did."
The couple did lose a hunting cabin and barn about 3 miles south of there. What used to be a place the Frecks rented out to hunters is now reduced to rubble and ash.
Frecks had been substitute teaching in neighboring Arapahoe last Friday when the fires picked up. She got home and her husband left their home shortly after because the fires were spreading north from Kansas.
"It just looked like somebody had a gigantic torch," she said. "It was traveling that fast that it just ignited – just the whole thing. I'm glad I wasn't here to see it." Freck said she feels pretty thankful the fire wasn’t any worse for her like it was for some others in the area.
