Kilgore's McCann fire burns 7,040 acres over five days

Getting at the heart of the matter! The McCann Canyon burned from Tuesday, April 11 through April 17, 2023. Record setting heat, high winds, and low humidity didn't help get the fire under control. Photo by Nebraska State Patrol Drone

An unofficial map used by the firefighters to stop McCann Canyon fire.

Cody-Kilgore Elementary School was evacuated as the fire raced toward the Village of Kilgore - both were evacuated Tuesday, April 11, 2023.

Justin Nickless and Jessica Coyle try to estimate the number of acres that were burning while filling out online information for help.

A record setting temperature of 92 degrees was reached Tuesday, April 11, 2023, which didn’t help with firefighting efforts. Pictured are Ethan Cozad and Johnny Kruger who traveled to the grain bins, south of Kilgore, offering Subway sandwiches to hungry and tired fire fighters.

The resiliency of the area’s ranchers was noticed as they replaced fence posts while their ground was still smoking, and the sun going down.

Looking at the backside of McCann Fire Wednesday, April 19, 2023 as the fire’s smoke fills the sky, which wasn’t near as dramatic as it was Tuesday.

Wednesday, April 12, 2023, was also a record setting heat day with temperatures that reached a high of 89, set at Valentine, breaking the old record of 88 set in 1931. This deer walks over burned meadow and sets its gaze on high. Looking closely, there is a cross on the hill. Photos by Laura Vroman

Pictured are Nebraska National Guard wildland firefighters from Lincoln, Aaron Kind, John Williams, and Captain Rene Arriola getting a lay of the land and fire behavior with Justin Nickless.

The Air National Guard sent two helicopters who helped douse the flames with water dipped from Merritt Reservoir and private stock dams closer to the fire.