By KALIN KROHE
Panhandle Post
The Chadron Volunteer Fire Department responded to two fires within the last 24-hours.
The first fire was in the Dead Horse area, approximately 9 miles southwest of Chadron.
CVFD crews were called out shortly after lunch on April 19 to a fire in some large cottonwood trees, threatening a structure.
"The start of it looks like it came from burned slash pile," Chadron Fire Chief Brendon Martens said. "I would say probably a month ago. And then it had got an ember from that pile and gone over into another pile. Then that pile started and then got up into a big cottonwood tree. And then when it got into the cottonwood tree, then it got into another tree and a couple more piles."
CVFD along with the US Forest Service took down three cottonwood trees and an ash tree.
"We were very fortunate that it was right along the creek," Martens said. "We basicially put three floater pumps in the creek so we were able to use that."
Martens said there were approximately 20 - 25 firefighters on scene for about 6 hours.
The second fire was a tractor fire in a Quonset building.
CVFD crews were called out to the fire at approximately 8:30 a.m. today.
"The guys showed up and did a heck of a knock down from the very beginning," Martens said. "They limited the damage to basically what was already involved to just the tractor, a straight truck and then there was a combine in there that took quite a bit of damage."
Martens said all three pieces of equipment are a total loss.
"It was a great response," Martens said.