35,000 acre wildfire burns through Gosper, Furnas counties, 50 percent contained

kAm%9FCD52J D2H 3@E9 2 w:89 (:?5 (2C?:?8 2?5 #65 u=28 (2C?:?8 :DDF65 7@C 3@E9 4@F?E:6D[ 2D H6== 2D E96 >2;@C:EJ @7 46?EC2= }63C2D<2] %96 }2E:@?2= (62E96C $6CG:46 – w2DE:?8D H2C?65 2?J 7:C6D E92E DE2CE65 4@F=5 DAC625 C2A:5=J 2?5 6I9:3:E 6IEC6>6[ F?AC65:4E23=6 3692G:@C]k^Am

kAm%96 DA2C< E92E D6E @77 E96 3=2K6 @44FCC65 2C@F?5 ?@@?[ D6G6? >:=6D D@FE9H6DE @7 t=H@@5] x?G6DE:82E@CD H:E9 E96 }63C2D<2 $E2E6 u:C6 |2CD92= 286?4J 92G6 56E6C>:?65 E96 42FD6 @7 E96 7:C6 H2D 244:56?E2= 2D 2 C6DF=E @7 DEC@?8 H:?5D 3=@H:?8 2 5625 EC66 :?E@ 2 A@H6C =:?6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 }63C2D<2 t>6C86?4J |2?286>6?E p86?4J W}t|pX]k^Am

kAmpD 2 C6DF=E @7 E96 6IEC6>6 7:C6 4@?5:E:@?D 2?5 9:89 H:?5D[ E96 7:C6 3682? E@ DAC625 C2A:5=J E@ E96 D@FE962DE]k^Am

kAmp2C@? |2?86=D[ 2 =625 7@C642DE6C H:E9 E96 }($ w2DE:?8D[ D2:5 >2I:>F> H:?5 8FDED ?62C y@9?D@? {2<6 H6C6 C64@C565 2E de >A9[ ?@CE9H6DE @7 ~I7@C5 2 dh >A9 8FDE H2D ?@E65] ~? D46?6[ E96 r=:AA6C\w6C2=5 >62DFC65 2 cb >A9 H:?5 8FDE ?62C H96C6 E96 7:C6 925 DE2CE65]k^Am

kAm%96 }($ w2DE:?8D :DDF6D 2 #65 u=28 (2C?:?8 2?JE:>6 9F>:5:EJ :D F?56C a_ A6C46?E 2?5 H:?5 8FDED 2C6 @G6C ad >A9] w6 2=D@ ?@E65 E96 @?8@:?8 5C@F89E H2D 2 4@?EC:3FE:?8 724E@C E@ E96 4@?5:E:@?D E92E 96=A65 E96 7:C6 DAC625 C2A:5=J]k^Am

kAmx? E96D6 EJA6D @7 4@?5:E:@?D[ |2?86=D D2:5 7:C6D 42? D9@H F?AC65:4E23=6 3692G:@C 2?5 6G6? 2 >6286C 2>@F?E @7 :?DE23:=:EJ :? E96 =@H6DE =6G6=D @7 E96 2E>@DA96C6 42? 2==@H E96 D>@<6 A=F>6D E@ 4C62E6 :ED @H? FA5C27E]k^Am

kAmx? D9@CE[ E96 7:C6 42? >@5:7J E96 =@42= 6?G:C@?>6?E :? DF49 2 H2J E92E :D DAC625D 24C@DD 2? 6G6? H:56C 2C62[ :?4=F5:?8 AC6\962E:?8 E96 >2E6C:2= :? E96 A2E9 @7 25G2?4:?8 7=2>6D]k^Am

kAm~77:4:2=D 7:CDE =62C?65 @7 E96 7:C6 62C=J %9FCD52J 27E6C?@@? H96? 2 42== 42>6 :? 23@FE 2 5:E49 7:C6[ v@DA6C r@F?EJ $96C:77 rC2:8 (2C5 D2:5]k^Am

kAm“%96?[” 96 D2:5[ “:E E@@< @77 E9C@F89 E96 9:==D 2?5 E96 42?J@?D 2?5 E96 7:6=5D]”k^Am

kAm(2C5 D2:5 E96 7=2>6D[ 72??65 3J 9:89 H:?5D[ 42FD65 52>286 7@C >:=6D 2?5 >:=6D[ 56DEC@J:?8 H9@=6 72C>DE625D :? E96 AC@46DD]k^Am

kAm“x’G6 ?6G6C D66? 2?JE9:?8 =:<6 :E :? ad J62CD @7 7:C6 D6CG:46 2?5 =2H 6?7@C46>6?E[” (2C5 E@=5 E96 ~>292 (@C=5\w6C2=5]k^Am

kAm {2E6C[ H96? DA62<:?8 E@ E96 {6I:?8E@? r=:AA6C\w6C2=5[ (2C5 D2:5 E96 7:C6 6I9:3:E65 3692G:@C 5:776C6?E 7C@> E92E @7 2 ?@C>2= C2?86=2?5 7:C6] “xE H6?E H96C6 :E H2?E65[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm{2C86 A=F>6D @7 8C6J[ H9:E6 2?5 3=24< D>@<6 4@F=5 36 D66? 3=@H:?8 24C@DD w:89H2J `g 2?5 agb[ :E 7:==65 E96 9@C:K@? D@FE9 @7 t=H@@5]k^Am

kAmpC@F?5 aia` A]>] E96 {6I:?8E@? '@=F?E66C u:C6 s6A2CE>6?E H2D A2865 E@ AC@G:56 >FEF2= 2:5 7@C E96 t=H@@5 u:C6 s6A2CE>6?E ?62C E96 :?E6CD64E:@? @7 w:89H2J agb 2?5 w:89H2J `g D@FE9 @7 t=H@@5]k^Am

kAmx? E@E2=[ 2C@F?5 c_ 7:C6 56A2CE>6?ED 7C@> 24C@DD E96 DE2E6 2?5 D6G6C2= 7C@> z2?D2D H@F=5 A2CE:4:A2E6 :? 96=A:?8 7:89E E96 7:C6]k^Am

kAm{'us u:C6 r9:67 q@ q6CCJ D2:5 :?:E:2==J E96J D6?E EH@ 8C2DD C:8D[ 2 E2?<6C 2?5 E96:C 4@>>2?5 G69:4=6 E@H:?8 E96:C &%'[ H:E9 `b 7:C67:89E6CD E@ E96 D46?6]k^Am

kAm%96J 4@@C5:?2E65 H:E9 uFC?2D r@F?EJ t>6C86?4J |2?286>6?E 2?5 56A=@J65 @? E96 ?@CE9 6?5 @7 E96 7:C6] q6CCJ D2:5 u2C?2> 2?5 q6CEC2?5 7:C67:89E6C F?:ED H6C6 2=D@ H@C<:?8 :? E96:C 2C62]k^Am

kAmpC@F?5 di`_ A]>][ t=H@@5 '@=F?E66C u:C6 r9:67 s2CC6? zCF== H2D <:==65 2?5 !96=AD r@F?EJ t>6C86?4J |2?286C yFDE:? }@CC:D H2D 4C:E:42==J :?;FC65 :? 2 4@==:D:@? 36EH66? E96:C G69:4=6 2?5 2 H2E6C ECF4< @? &]$] w:89H2J agb 23@FE 6:89E >:=6D ?@CE9 @7 pC2A29@6] %96 5C:G6C @7 E96 ECF4< H2D ?@E :?;FC65]k^Am

kAmu:C6 2?5 D>@<6 925 4C62E65 K6C@\G:D:3:=:EJ 4@?5:E:@?D 3J E96 E:>6 @7 E96 4C2D9[ D2:5 r@5J %9@>2D[ 2 DA@<6D>2? 7@C E96 }63C2D<2 $E2E6 !2EC@=] %96 4C2D9 H2D C6A@CE65 2E di`_ A]>]k^Am

kAm“}t|p DE277 2C6 E9:?<:?8 @7 E96 72>:=J @7 r9:67 s2CC6? zCF== @7 E96 t=H@@5 '@=F?E66C u:C6 s6A2CE>6?E H9@ H2D EC28:42==J <:==65 :? 2 9625 @? 4@==:D:@? H9:=6 C6DA@?5:?8 E@ E96 7:C6[” D2:5 }t|p pDD:DE2?E s:C64E@C tCG !@CE:D] “(6 2C6 <66A:?8 !96=AD r@F?EJ t>6C86?4J |2?286>6?E s:C64E@C yFDE:? }@CC:D :? @FC E9@F89ED 2D 96 C64@G6CD 7C@> 9:D :?;FC:6D]”k^Am

kAmqJ h A]>][ D6G6? ?6H {6I:?8E@? 7:C67:89E6CD 2CC:G65 @? D46?6 E@ C6=:6G6 D@>6 @7 E96 >6>36CD H9@ 925 366? H@C<:?8 E@ 7:89E E96 7=2>6D 7@C D6G6? 9@FCD] q6CCJ D2:5 :E H2D 2 8@@5 C6=:67 2D D>@<6 2?5 5FDE :?92=2E:@? H2D 364@>:?8 2? :DDF6 7@C D@>6 7:C67:89E6CD]k^Am

kAm%96 7:C6 925 DE2CE65 @? 2 ?2CC@H A2E9 3FE 925 368F? E@ H:56? H96? :E ;F>A65 w:89H2J agb[ H9:49 H2D 4=@D65 5@H? 36EH66? t=H@@5 2?5 pC2A29@6]k^Am

kAmpD E96 7:C6 3=2K65 :ED H2J D@FE9[ :E 3682? E@ E9C62E6? E96 G:==286 @7 t5:D@?[ A@AF=2E:@? 2C@F?5 `d_] q6CCJ D2:5 2C@F?5 `_ A]>][ {6I:?8E@? F?:ED H6C6 D9:7E65 D@FE9 2?5 H@C<65 E96 H6DE 6586 @7 E96 7:C6 2D :E 2AAC@24965 E96 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Am

kAmp? 6G24F2E:@? @C56C 7@C t5:D@? H2D 564=2C65 %9FCD52J ?:89E] q6CCJ D2:5 E96 7:C6 H2D DF446DD7F==J DE@AA65 2E E96 #6AF3=:42? #:G6C] u:C67:89E6CD 925 >2?2865 E@ 7F??6= E96 7:C6 36EH66? t5:D@? 2?5 pC2A29@6]k^Am

kAmp7E6CH2C5[ {6I:?8E@? F?:ED H6C6 E2D<65 H:E9 9625:?8 324< ?@CE9 2?5 4964<:?8 @? 2?J 9@>6DE625D E96J D2H E@ >2<6 DFC6 E96J H6C6 D276] q6CCJ D2:5 {6I:?8E@? F?:ED C6EFC?65 E@ E@H? 2C@F?5 a 2]>] @? uC:52J >@C?:?8]k^Am

kAmq6CCJ D2:5 :? 9:D aa J62CD @7 G@=F?E66C 7:C67:89E:?8[ 96 92D ?6G6C 6IA6C:6?465 7:C6 H62E96C 4@?5:E:@?D =:<6 E9@D6 @? %9FCD52J] w6 D2:5 E96 7:C6 H2D 3FC?:?8 @? 2 >2DD:G6 D42=6 2?5 E96 23:=:EJ E@ DE2J 29625 @7 :E H2D AC24E:42==J :>A@DD:3=6]k^Am

kAm(96? 56D4C:3:?8 E96 27E6C>2E9[ q6CCJ D2:5 E96 2C62 =@@<65 =:<6 E96 C6DF=E @7 2?[ “2A@42=JAE:4 6G6?E]” w6 D2:5 E96 26C:2= A9@E@8C2A9D @7 E96 7:C6 5@?’E 5@ ;FDE:46 E@ H92E E9:?8D =@@<65 =:<6 @? E96 8C@F?5 5FC:?8 E96 7:C6]k^Am

kAmq6CCJ 2=D@ ?@E65 E96 7:C6 3692G65 :? DEC2?86 H2JD 2>:5 E96 9:89 H:?5 8FDED[ :? D@>6 42D6D E96 7=2>6D H@F=5 C6249 E96 4C6DE @7 2 9:== 2?5 ;F>A C:89E @G6C E@ E96 ?6IE[ DA2C:?8 E96 56AC6DD:@? 36EH66? E96 EH@]k^Am

kAm$@>6 @7 E96 8C2DD6D E96 7:C6 3FC?65 E9C@F89 925 366? 492CC65 @? E96 E@A[ 3FE q6CCJ D2:5 E96 7:C6 H2D >@G:?8 D@ BF:4<=J[ :? D@>6 42D6D[ E96 3@EE@> 92=7 @7 E96 DE@4< @7 8C2DD H2D DA2C65]k^Am

kAm%96 D>@<6 A=F>6 7C@> E96 7:C6 4@F=5 36 D66? 4=62C=J 7C@> }($ w2DE:?8D s@AA=6C C252C D:E6 2E q=F6 w:==]k^Am

kAm“|6>36CD @7 E96 (:=5=2?5 x?4:56?E #6DA@?D6 pDD:DE2?46 %62> 7C@> E96 }63C2D<2 $E2E6 u:C6 |2CD92= p86?4J 2CC:G65 %9FCD52J E@ 2DD:DE :? E96 C6DA@?D6 2?5 4FCC6?E=J E96C6 2C6 D:I }$u| DE277 2DD:DE:?8 :? E96 C6DA@?D6 2?5 :?G6DE:82E:?8 E96 @C:8:? 2?5 42FD6 @7 E96 7:C6 2?5 7:G6 }u$ DE277[” A6C }t|p]k^Am

kAm}63C2D<2 t>6C86?4J |2?286>6?E p86?4J 92D D6?E 2? x?4:56?E |2?286>6?E pDD:DE2?46 %62> @7 D6G6? }t|p DE277 E@ 2DD:DE #68:@? `f t>6C86?4J |2?286>6?E p86?4J 2?5 7:CDE C6DA@?56CD]k^Am

kAm“%H@ &w\e_ q=24<92H< 96=:4@AE6CD H:E9 4C6HD[ 2 ad\A6CD@? (:=5=2?5 %2D<7@C46 92?5 4C6H 2?5 DFAA@CE G69:4=6D 7C@> E96 }63C2D<2 }2E:@?2= vF2C5 2C6 56A=@J:?8 E@ E96 7:C6 @? uC:52J] p }63C2D<2 $E2E6 !2EC@= 96=:4@AE6C 7=6H 2 C64@8?:K2?46 7=:89E E@ AC@G:56 :?7@C>2E:@? E@ :?4:56?E 4@>>2?5[” 244@C5:?8 E@ }t|p]k^Am

kAmx?4:56?E r@>>2?56C qC:2? $:DD@? D2:5[ “#6DA@?56CD 2C6 6DE23=:D9:?8 2 A6C:>6E6C[ H@C<:?8 9@E DA@ED 2?5 4@@=:?8 E96 :?E6C:@C @7 E96 7:C6] (6 2C6 2AAC64:2E:G6 @7 2== E96 677@CED E96 7:C67:89E6CD 2C6 >2<:?8 E@ H@C< E9:D 7:C6] (6 2=D@ ?665 E@ E92?< E96 4@>>F?:EJ 7@C E96:C 6IAC6DD:@?D @7 DFAA@CE]”k^Am

kAmq6CCJ D2:5 2 {6I:?8E@? 8C2DD C:8 2?5 2 E2?<6C 2=@?8 H:E9 D:I 7:C67:89E6CD 962565 324< E@ E96 D46?6 2C@F?5 dib_ 2]>] @? $2EFC52J >@C?:?8 E@ 7:?5 9@EDA@ED ?62C F?3FC?65 2C62D 2?5 AFE E9@D6 @FE]k^Am

kAm%96 7:C67:89E6CD H@F=5 =@@< 7@C D>@<6 @C 7=2>6D H:E9:? e_ 766E @7 F?3FC?E >2E6C:2= 2?5 >@G6 E@ @G6C92F= E96 2C62[ AFE H2E6C @? E96 8C@F?5[ 7=:A =@8D 2?5 4FE 5@H? EC66D]k^Am

kAm q6CCJ D2:5 E96J H@C<65 E96 ?@CE962DE D:56 @7 E96 7:C6[ 2=@?8 H:E9 EH@ 7:C67:89E6CD 7C@> p==:2?46] w6 2=D@ ?@E65 E96J 4@@C5:?2E65 2C@F?5 `_ 5:776C6?E 5C@AD 7C@> 2 q=24<92H< 96=:4@AE6C E92E H2D 2 “EC6>6?5@FD 96=A” :? 4@?EC@==:?8 E96 9@EDA@ED]k^Am

kAmt:89E DECF4EFC6D 2?5 cg @FE3F:=5:?8D H6C6 56DEC@J65 :? E96 3=2K6] q@E9 4@F?E:6D :DDF65 6>6C86?4J 564=2C2E:@?D uC:52J >@C?:?8 C6BF6DE:?8 DE2E6 2DD:DE2?46]k^Am

kAmv@G] !6E6 #:4<6EED :DDF65 2 DE2E6 6>6C86?4J 564=2C2E:@? E@52J H9:49 2==@HD DE2E6 2DD6ED 2?5 E96 v@G6C?@C’D t>6C86?4J uF?5 E@ 36 FD65 7@C E96 C6DA@?D6]k^Am

kAm%96 7:C6 H2D 4@?D:56C65 d_T 4@?E2:?65 |@?52J >@C?:?8] “x? H:=57:C6 C6DA@?D6[ 4@?E2:?>6?E C676CD E@ 2 =:?6 3F:=E @C 6DE23=:D965 2C@F?5 2 7:C6’D A6C:>6E6C E92E H:== <66A :E 7C@> 8C@H:?8 F?56C 2=>@DE 2?J 4@?5:E:@?D] %96 >@DE 4@>>@? 2?5 67764E:G6 H2J @7 249:6G:?8 E92E A6C:>6E6C =:?6 – D@>6E:>6D 42==65 2 7:C6 =:?6 – :D E@ C6>@G6 2== G686E2E:@? 2?5 3FC?23=6 7F6= :? E96 7:C6VD A2E9[ >2<:?8 2?J 7FCE96C 6IA2?D:@? :>A@DD:3=6[” 244@C5:?8 E@ }t|p]k^Am

kAmQ(6VC6 766=:?8 C62==J 8@@5 23@FE H96C6 H6VC6 2E C:89E ?@H[Q D2:5 p=JDD2 $2?56CD[ 2 DA@<6DH@>2? 7@C E96 }63C2D<2 t>6C86?4J |2?286>6?E p86?4J] “u:C6 4C6HD 2C6 H@C<:?8 :? 2C62D H:E9 =2C86 2>@F?ED @7 7:C6 7F6=[ DF49 2D =2C86 E:>36C 2C62D[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm~? D46?6 :? E96 3FC? D42C @? |@?52J[ E96 D>6== @7 3FC?65 8C2DD[ 4@C? DE2=<D 2?5 42EE=6 5F?8 9F?8 962GJ :? E96 2:C] u:C6 F?:ED H6C6 DE:== C@2>:?8 24C@DD E96 2C62 562=:?8 H:E9 9@EDA@ED]k^Am

kAm%96 3FC? D42C 4@F=5 36 D66? 7C@> DA246 3J E96 v~t$\`e H62E96C D2E6==:E6 E92E @G6C=@@<D E96 E96 p>6C:42D]k^Am

kAmq6CCJ D2:5 :E DA@<6 H6== @7 E96 7:C67:89E:?8 4@>>F?:EJ E92E D@ >2?J 5:776C6?E 56A2CE>6?ED 7C@> 24C@DD E96 DE2E6 2?5 @FE @7 DE2E6 D9@H65 FA E@ 96=A[ 3642FD6 E96J <?6H :E H2D ?66565]k^Am

kAmq6CCJ D2:5 9:D 2?5 E96 {6I:?8E@? 7:C67:89E6C’D 962CED 8@6D @FE E@ E96 zCF== 72>:=J[ E96 4@>>F?:EJ @7 t=H@@5 2?5 2== E9@D6 E92E =@DE AC@A6CEJ 5FC:?8 E9:D EC2865J]k^Am

kAmk6>m%96 z62C?6J wF3 2?5 ~>292 (@C=5\w6C2=5 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ E9:D C6A@CE]k^6>mk^Am