Woman dies during Nebraska wildfire evacuation

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

By Martha Stoddard and Maricia Guzman

UPDATE: The Sheridan County Sheriff's Office has issued a mandatory evacuation for anyone living in the west and south area of the Metcalf Wildlife Area, which is 9 miles north of Hays Springs, because of a third fire in that area.

* * * UPDATE: Ronni Davis, 64, died Wednesday night during a fire evacuation process for the West Ash Creek Fire, according to the Dawes County Attorney's Office.

Chadron dispatch received a call at 10:17 p.m. that a neighbor discovered Davis having difficulty breathing when they went to check on her during the evacuation. The Chadron ambulance and the Dawes County Sheriff responded to her home and attempted resuscitation and transported her to the Chadron Community Hospital. She was pronounced dead there.

A preliminary investigation indicates Davis likely died of natural causes from a cardio-pulmonary event.

* * *

Original story on the fire posted earlier today is also at this link.


Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20120830/NEWS/708309901/1685#woman-dies-during-nebraska-wildfire-evacuation

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http://www.omaha.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=OW&Date=20120830&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=708309901&Ref=AR&Profile=1685&maxw=598&maxh=400
T.J. Thomson / For the World-Herald

A pillar of smoke rises from an area approximately 4 to 5 miles southwest from Chadron State College.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

1. People who are borderline ofter succumb during events like this.

It's like when I was living back east and would hear about heart attacks while shovelling snow.

[frogmarch]

2. Picture

Here's a photo taken earlier today of a portion of the West Ash Creek Fire when it was about 15 south of my house. The fire is now closer.



The West Ash Creek fire, along with the Douthit Fire that Ronni Davis died because of, are zero percent contained and together have so far burned around 25,000 acres. Another wildfire east of Chadron near Hay Springs is also burning out of control and is heading in the direction of Chadron.

Mr. froggy and I are packed up and ready to evacuate if and when we get the order to. On the other hand, since he has COPD and the smoke is getting bad, we think we'll head to Rapid City now.

[Dont call me Shirley]

3. I am so sorry. New Mexico has been on fire for the past several years.

The smoke makes it difficult to breathe, even as fas away as a couple hundred miles, it just takes the wind.