91°µÍø

The fire, which began from lightning strikes June 9, grew to 36,696 acres before it was completely contained June 24. When the incident expanded beyond its original command location in Crawford on June 11, the college provided space for the Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 2 to set up their operations and oversee combined efforts related to the fire. CSC also responded to the Red Cross request to provide shelter and food for residents evacuated from the Crawford area, which included Fort Robinson.

“There was no question that 91°µÍø would say yes to the requests we received during those initial hours of the South Fork Fire,” said CSC President Jodi Kupper. “From housing and food requests for displaced evacuees to campus spaces for the Rocky Mountain Incident Command team, we were committed to ensuring that any resources we had available were at the disposal of those impacted by the fire and those fighting it. While this support engaged a number of individuals across campus, I especially wish to thank Amanda Medaries and Christian Miller for the many hours they spent processing requests and providing daily assistance.”  

At the height of the fire response, approximately 500 personnel were either working on the fire or staying in camp on the 91°µÍø campus, according to Cha Duggin, Public Affairs Officer for the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands and Public Information Officer for the South Fork Fire.

According to Shawna Hartman, Information Officer for Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 2, fire personnel worked around the clock during the response, with day and night shifts established once the incident moved into extended attack operations. On average, firefighters worked 14 to 16 hours each day.

“The campus was an integral part of our Incident Command Post’s operations,” Hartman said. “We needed Wi-Fi, camping space, shower units, catering, and office space, all within proximity to Crawford and the fire area. The campus was willing to work with us on every angle and provided quiet, smoke-free rest areas for firefighters.”

The college provided the infrastructure needed for the Incident Command Team to establish operations in a timely manner and support firefighters working on the ground.

“To be able to quickly and seamlessly set up camp and offices to start supporting the firefighting effort and firefighters on the ground is so valuable,” Hartman said. “If support staff are unable to function efficiently, it hampers suppression efforts. The campus and its staff helped make supporting our firefighters easy and efficient from day one.”

Rocky Mountain Team 2 Operations Section Chief Nathan Hallam, who later transitioned into the role of Type 3 Incident Commander, said collaboration among communities and response agencies was critical to the success of the operation.

“The hospitality and coordination with the communities affected by the South Fork Fire was instrumental with minimizing impact to the community of Crawford and Fort Robinson,” Hallam said. “We hope that the service we provided will help to continue to grow partnerships and coordination on future incidents in the area.”

Firefighters and support personnel responded from 25 states, according to Duggin, bringing together local volunteer fire departments, community fire departments, state agencies, and federal wildland fire programs. Fifty Nebraska-based resources and more than 18 from Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming assisted.

The Incident Command System, a nationally recognized structure for managing large-scale emergencies, was utilized to identify and prioritize resources on the ground and ensure personnel and equipment were assigned where needed.

Ground crews worked alongside aviation resources to battle the fire. Tactical operations, including handline construction and aerial water and retardant drops, were directed by qualified personnel on the fireline. When multiple aircraft were involved, an Air Attack Supervisor coordinated aviation resources from above the fire to help prevent collisions and maintain safe operations, according to Hartman and Duggin.

Firefighters faced several challenges throughout the response, including strong winds, extremely dry vegetation, intense heat, rugged terrain, and shifting conditions.

“The hospitality of Northwest Nebraska is appreciated,” Hartman said. “From [a local business] making hundreds of burritos for firefighters to neighbors bringing homemade cookies and food to the Crawford Volunteer Fire Station to the turnout at the community meeting, it all meant so much to us.”

Local volunteers also played an important role in the response by helping provide access to the fire area, identifying local water sources, and supporting firefighters throughout the incident.

“The support from the Crawford, Harrison, and Chadron communities, and the quick actions of the local volunteer fire departments and the ranching community were among the main reasons this fire did not cause more destruction than it did,” Hartman said.

In an unexpected act of generosity, Matt Davenport, owner and general manager of Hold the Line catering service which provided meals to firefighters and staff, donated a pallet of frozen food and a pallet of fresh food to CSC when the fire was declared 90 percent contained and many crews left June 21.

Kate Pope, coordinator of the CSC Food Pantry, said she opened the pantry Monday and served 19 students. Four freezers across campus stored the food overnight.

“We donated the remainder of the fresh food and half of the frozen food to Northwest Community Action Partnership. The CSC Food Pantry is incredibly grateful for Hold the Line Catering’s generous donation to support both the college and the Chadron community. Our students were especially appreciative of the variety of fresh and frozen foods to help support them throughout the summer months,” Pope said.