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(Lincoln, NE) State officials have mobilized a multitude of assets to assist regional efforts in fighting a fire of unknown cause that ignited north and east of Valentine, Neb., at around 4:30 p.m. CT, Sunday. A drought-based emergency declaration by Gov. Dave Heineman, signed last month in anticipation of wildfires, enabled a rapid response. No additional disaster declaration is necessary, as the current one remains in effect.
"I want to assure the people of Valentine and Cherry County that Nebraska is paying close attention to the scale and scope of this natural disaster, and we will do all we can to assist regional firefighting efforts," Gov. Heineman said. "This is a trying time for north-central Nebraska, but training in disaster response pays off on difficult days."
Firefighters from across the region have been arriving to assist Valentine, based on mutual aid agreements. The Nebraska National Guard is sending a pair of helicopters this morning for firefighting support. The Nebraska State Patrol already has troopers on the ground assisting Valentine and Cherry County law enforcement agencies with traffic direction, and the State Patrol and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have relocated their mobile communications vehicles to Valentine.
As of Sunday evening, NEMA had activated its 24-hour Emergency Operations Center for communications with Cherry County emergency management officials. The Nebraska State Fire Marshal's Office had also dispatched its Wildland Incident Response and Assistance Team, which includes the Nebraska Forest Service. In the meantime, NEMA has applied and received approval for a Federal Emergency Management Agency fire management assistance grant to aid in offsetting the costs of large-scale firefighting efforts.
High winds helped spread the wildfire into nearby canyons and parkland on the northern edge of town. Preliminary damage assessments showed at least six houses had been destroyed. Local officials were evaluating evacuations on a block-by-block basis. As of Monday morning, no serious injuries had been reported.
The Governor is making arrangements to tour the fire scene. Details will be released.
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