Barneston Rural Volunteer Fire Department

05/25/2026

05/18/2026

A "PDS" warning means a particularly dangerous situation. These warnings are not common and should be taken very seriously. Conditions are setting up to be favorable for large dangerous tornadoes if storms can get the momentum they need to produce. Another threat is large hail. Follow your local weather closely, have your weather radios handy, and be prepared to take shelter immediately in the case of a tornado warning.

A Tornado Watch has been issued for part of far southeast Nebraska. ***This is a Particularly Dangerous Situation!*** Have multiple ways to get warnings and know your severe weather safety plan!

04/26/2026

On Wednesday April 22nd the 3&33 Task Force received a WIRAT request to respond to the Pressey Fire in Custer County for a 48 hour deployment. Barneston Fire Truck 1 operated by Chief McHenry and Firefighter Vrtiska responded with engines and personnel from Fairbury Rural Fire, Wymore Rural Fire, Bluesprings Fire, and Diller Fire and Rescue. Beatrice Rural Fire also sent 1 personnel for the deployment. Crews worked division Hotel at the southern side of the fire alongside resources from Elmcreek, Amherst, Pleasanton, Miller, Sergeant, Loomis, Oconto, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and a Nebraska National Guard JERC Handcrew. Barneston Fire left our station at 0130hrs on April 23rd and returned to our station at 0155hrs on April 25th. The 3&33 Task Force also sent apparatus and personnel for an operational period on Saturday the 25th consisting of apparatus and personnel from Diller Fire and Rescue, Bluesprings Fire, and Beatrice Rural Fire.

Barneston Chief McHenry was selected to be the 3&33 Task Force leader for the deployment, and once we arrived at ICP in Broken Bow was selected to be the division supervisor for HOTEL Division. Within the division we spent our time patrolling the Pressey Park area eliminating hot spots and mopping the fire line to mitigate risk of fire spread. Crews worked long hard hours together as a team to achieve our objectives. Below are some pictures taken during operations and during a recon flight on Thursday afternoon.

03/31/2026

Two dozen departments from across the state responded to a request to help contain a grass fire in Peru throughout the weekend