Family remembers ex-fire chief killed in southwest Nebraska wildfires

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – As constructive enhancements are being made on the Highway 702 wildfire in southwest Nebraska, household and group members are remembering the lifetime of a person who misplaced his battle whereas working to guard others.

“On that day he simply wished to return out and assist,” says Kyle Trumble.

Kyle, a volunteer firefighter, misplaced his father, John, Friday, whereas they had been working to extinguish the flames close to their residence in Cambridge, Nebraska.

“He was simply recognizing, watching the place the hearth was going and relaying it to the command submit so we may know the place to arrange the water tanks and evacuate individuals,” Kyle says.

66-year-old John was additionally a member of the Cambridge hearth division for almost 30 years, earlier than retiring from his place as chief round 2011.

Kyle says his father is the rationale he determined to affix the division, too.

“My dad all the time did it, and I all the time appeared as much as my dad for doing it, and you realize, when everybody else is operating away he was going in direction of it.”

The flames have burned lots of of acres of land, destroyed a number of properties, and injured greater than a dozen individuals. It started on Friday in Kansas and rapidly unfold as a consequence of excessive winds.

Friday night time, dozens of crews had been making an attempt to guard properties and folks.

“It simply saved going and going, you realize, we’d evacuate this space after which the following factor you realize had been evacuating one other space and we simply saved evacuating areas as a result of the hearth simply saved on rolling,” Kyle says.

Nebraska Emergency Administration officers say John was overcome by smoke and hearth whereas recognizing after his automobile left the highway as a consequence of poor visibility. His physique was discovered early Saturday morning.

John leaves behind his 4 kids and 7 grandkids. He additionally leaves behind a legacy of kindness.

“No person’s good, however he was a caring particular person,” Kyle provides. “If anyone wanted assist, he would cease, drop every part, and go and assist. He was all the time looking for the well-being of the group over himself nearly on a regular basis.”

The Trumble household says they’re past grateful for the assist, prayers, and well-wishes from the group of Cambridge and from throughout the state of Nebraska.

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