Crews have been able to contain most of a massive wildfire in southwest Nebraska and federal officials are preparing to turn command back to state and local officials.
The Road 702 fire was 74% contained as of Wednesday morning, the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency said. Further containment was expected by Wednesday evening, officials said in a news release.
The Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team is expected to turn over command Friday morning after working to control the fire that has burned 41,448 acres in Red Willow, Furnas and Frontier counties in Nebraska and Phillips and Norton counties in Kansas.
More than 200 people have worked to bring it under control, NEMA said.Â
Shifting winds and gusts of up to 40 mph Tuesday allowed the fire to jump its perimeter, NEMA said. The flames were beaten back through a coordinated effort of firefighters, local landowners and the Nebraska National Guard.
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The Guard is using helicopters to drop water on the fire. That is helping to bring it under control.
Retired Cambridge Volunteer Fire Chief John P. Trumble was killed while helping fight the 702 fire Friday evening. Five other people have been injured.