Area fire crews remained busy on Monday with more fire calls. The Valentine Volunteer Fire Department was called-back to the Simmons place midday Monday. Firemen were able to make short work of that flare-up, but were paged to another fire almost immediately upon return to the fire hall. At approximately 3:45, Valentine Volunteer Fire Department responded along with Mission Volunteer Fire Department and BIA firemen to the report of a fire on the Billy Cumbow place just north of the Nebraska/South Dakota state line. According to Mission Fire Chief Joe Moore, that fire burned 45-50 acres and kept firemen on scene for about 4 and a half hours. It is believed a hot bearing on a baler caused the fire.
The Civil Air Patrol is doing a smoke check this (Tuesday) afternoon, flying between Valentine and Highway 7 near Bassett, NE.