Gerhold Trucks Help Fight McCook Grass Fire

Photo by ROGER HENTHORN/Lyman-Richey
When the McCook fire department put out the call for trucks that could carry water for a grass fire north of town, Gerhold Concrete sent four trucks to help. 

By BRADY JONES
Lyman-Richey Communications

They may not have had firefighter hats, but that didn't stop drivers from the Gerhold Concrete plant in McCook, Neb., from answering the call when 60-mph winds pushed a grassfire toward the northern part of town, threatening homes and neighborhoods.

"As a driver, you're not going to get close to the fire because you're not there for that," said McCook Plant Manager Roger Henthorn. "But if there was something we could do to help, we would do that."

Trucks from fire departments 70 miles away rushed to help with the blaze, but they also asked for help from anyone with a tanker or ability to carry water.

So Henthorn and three drivers - Sam Dybdahl, Shane Banzhaf, and Clinton Wright - filled their drums with water and joined a parade of other tankers and trucks that stretched for several blocks. 

Though the crews were able to control and stop the fire, some embers blew into the attic of a home, which caught fire and burned down. 

"We soaked the ground along the street hoping that if the fire got that far, it wouldn't be able to jump the street and continue on," Henthorn said. "We're glad we could help in any way."