Heroic actions of area firefighters prevent loss of life or major damage
On the afternoon of Wednesday, Jan. 19, Corn and Bessie Fire Department responded to a fire sparked by power lines 4.5 miles east of Bessie.
The fire was contained, but alas it rekindled that evening. Bessie and Corn Fire Departments were paged and shortly after that the Cordell, Colony, Burns Flat-Dill City and Rocky Fire Departments along with the Custer County Task Force were sent to help assist with the fire at hand.
The original fire was north of Corn Road but after it ignited once more, it was able to jump the highway.
“This was a very large fire and we were blessed with all the other fire departments who showed up! We couldn’t have done it without them! Especially in that wind with freezing temperatures that were freezing brush truck lines,” said Bessie Firefighter Carsen Nickel.
With the severity of the high winds the fire was able to burn a mile before the departments successfully managed to get it under control.
“Fortunately, no structures were involved and it was contained to grass pasture and wheat stubble. A Bessie firefighter was injured when the truck he was in hit a ditch, but there were no serious injuries,” stated Cordell Firefighter Jason Dudgeon.