The scene near Peru—a small town about 60 miles south of Omaha—has been a chaotic mix of smoke and grit for days. State fire departments have been pouring resources into the area, with support coming in from places like Elk Creek and Richardson County to help manage the flames.
Actually, it wasn’t just a few crews; a total of 65 first responders from 22 agencies have been grinding away at the lines, according to Misryoum reporting. You can almost smell the charred pine if you’re standing anywhere near the perimeter. It’s heavy, that smell.
Progress on the Curry Timber fire, which is the main concern right now, really started to pick up Saturday. By Sunday, the teams were able to get fire lines established, which finally put a lid on the spread. Or maybe not a lid, but it definitely slowed things down. By Sunday evening, the intensity had settled back—thankfully.
As of Monday morning, the Misryoum editorial desk noted that the Curry Timber fire was 60% contained. That’s solid progress considering how fast these things can turn when the wind shifts.
Meanwhile, the Minor fire—which sits at about 14,000 acres—is still burning, though it’s hit 30% containment. It’s hard to keep track of all the numbers when things move this fast, but that’s the latest update from the Rockplex Incident Management Team.
The response has been massive, and frankly, exhausting for everyone involved. The teams are still out there, holding the line, even as the smoke hangs low over the fields. Just waiting for that final word that it’s over, I guess.