(Neb.)-Ash Creek Fire 100% Contained

By: Chris Fankhauser Posted at: 07/26/2012 07:15 PM

Chadron and Crawford – Fire officials in northwestern Nebraska have made significant progress on two active fires that were started by a lightning storm late last weekend. Following another successful day of mop up, the Ash Creek Fire was declared 100% contained this evening by fire officials.

The 2,003 acre fire was caused by lightning, originally reported early Sunday, and located 20 miles southwest of Chadron. Most of the burned area lies in the Pine Ridge National Recreation Area of the Nebraska National Forests & Grasslands, but 100 acres were on private lands.

The Steineke Fire was reported late yesterday morning and was also attributed to lightning. Officials mounted an aggressive initial attack, including strategic air strike and water drops to aid firefighters, hot shot crews, dozers and other resources, which were located nearby because of the Ash Creek Fire. The Steineke Fire is located approximately 10 miles southeast of Crawford, has burned 350 acres and was declared 60% contained this evening by Brian Prosser, Fire Chief of the Crawford Volunteer Fire Department.

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