AINSWORTH, Neb. (KTIV) -
The north-central Nebraska fires are almost contained.
To do that, many volunteers have helped fight the fires, prepare meals and make sure supplies on hand.
Here are some thoughts from the Ainsworth volunteers who have been on scene the entire time.
"And just to see the flames and the smoke of small area at that time was unbelievable," Kathy Worrell, an Ainsworth Resident said.
"As the flames started jumping the Niobrara River more units were called in," Worrell said.
"And after that we started calling out for further mutual aid and it kind of exploded from there," Brian Fiala, the Ainsworth Fire Chief said.
"I don't know how the fireman did it and you could just see how tired they looked when you saw them," Worrell said.
"It's totally amazing. It's not just the fireman that have been here fighting fire. It's also the outside, we've got coming in," Fiala said.
"The amount of people that have volunteered, the amount of people that have called from all over the state throughout the United States and said we want to help provide food, provide water," Cammie Waits, an Ainsworth Volunteer said.
"The volunteer support has been awesome from our young kids to senior citizens," Worrell said.
"I just want to thank everybody for their donations for their prayers and for all of these men and women that came and fought these fires. We've even learned of people that weren't even firemen, they just came because they wanted to help," Waits said.
"I would really like to spend a special thanks to the other fire chiefs in this area," Fiala said.
"I've been touched by our local people and as well as others coming," Waits said.
"And I do believe that this, God help, that this never happens to another community, Ainsworth Nebraska is going to be at the front of line to help anybody that needs help," Worrell said.
Officials say all of the scenic Niobrara River will likely will be open to boating and tubing this weekend.
Evacuation orders for the small towns of Norden and Meadville have been lifted and nearby Highway 12 has reopened.
