ELWOOD - Fire truck falls in ravine, destroyed in grass fire

Calm down Chief, it was Elwood Nebraska

10/30/2007

The Elwood Volunteer Fire Department lost a fire truck in a 300-acre grass fire Monday night.

Fire Chief Ed Houldon said the fire started about 7:30 p.m. in a pasture owned by the Fong Brothers about one mile southwest of Elwood. Fire departments from Elwood, Eustis, Arapahoe, Bertrand and Lexington responded, as did the Gosper County Sheriffï's Department.

Houldon said a fire truck from Elwood fell into a ravine, and crews were unable to get it out before it burned. There were no injuries, but the truck was destroyed.

Houldon said the fire's cause is unknown. He estimated that it took about 60 to 70 firefighters to stop the blaze, and they finished about 12:30 a.m.

The truck was one of seven fire trucks in Elwood. Houldon said, unfortunately, two others also need maintenance.