(Neb.)-Chadron State Classes, Chadron Public Schools Canceled UPDATE 10:30 a.m.

By: Dennis and Kathi Brown Posted at: 08/30/2012 05:57 AM

UPDATE 10:30 a.m. In addition to classes being cancelled today (Thursday) for Chadron Public Schools, officials have decided to cancel classes for tomorrow (Friday) as well. Classes again are also cancelled for both today and tomorrow at Chadron State College.

(CHADRON)-Chadron State College has canceled classes Thursday and Friday as a series of wildfires rage in northwest Nebraska.

The campus will remain open, but CSC officials say the cancellation of classes will allow students who were planning to return home for the Labor Day weekend to leave early.

“The campus is in no imminent danger, but when we’re dealing with something as uncertain as wildfires we want to be extremely cautious,” said Dale Grant, CSC vice president for administration and finance.

Grant said students living in the residence halls are not required to leave. If students do leave, they are being asked ot check out at the front desk so residence life staff can monitor who is still on-campus.

“This is not an evacuation,” Grant said. “But, if students were planning to leave for the weekend, this will give them the opportunity to do so early.”

U.S. Highway 385 south of Chadron has been closed, but remains open north of Chadron. U.S. Highway 20 east and west of town also is open. One fire was burning in the Chadron State Park area Thursday morning. Many residents south of Chadron were evacuated from their homes during the night.

CSC officials encourage students and employees to follow media reports and make safety a top priority as crews battle the fires. They also encourage students to ensure that their contact information on the MyCSC portal is up-to-date so they can receive emergency notifications from the institution.

All Chadron Public Schools are closed today as well.

—Justin Haag, CSC Information Services contributed to this story

Comments: