LEADER KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN AT SIX. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES ACROSS NEBRASKA HAVE BEEN SCORCHED AS WILDFIRES CONTINUE TO BURN. THANKS FOR JOINING US. I’M MADDIE AUGUSTINE IN WESTERN NEBRASKA. ONE FIRE HIT ESPECIALLY CLOSE TO HOME FOR A COUNTY SHERIFF, KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN’S CONNOR SCHMIDT SPOKE WITH HIM ABOUT THE TERRIFYING ESCAPE AND THE MESSAGE HE WANTS PEOPLE TO HEAR. CONNOR. THE FIRE IS BURNING ACROSS NEBRASKA HAVE DESTROYED HOMES, SCORCHED FARMLAND AND FORCED EVACUATIONS IN SEVERAL COMMUNITIES IN GARDEN COUNTY, THOUGH THE FLAMES ALSO DESTROYED THE HOME OF SHERIFF RANDY ROSS, WHO SAYS THE EXPERIENCE GAVE HIM A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON THE DANGERS THESE FIRES CAN BRING. WHILE HE WAS HELPING EVACUATE RESIDENTS IN GARDEN COUNTY, ROSS GOT AN ALERT THAT WINDS WERE SHIFTING EASTBOUND TOWARD HIS HOME. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO CONTAIN THAT FIRE, ROSS DETERMINED IT WAS TOO LATE AND DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO GRAB BELONGINGS AND GET HIS FAMILY TO SAFETY. AS THEY TRIED TO ESCAPE, SMOKE SURROUNDED THE ROADS AROUND THE PROPERTY, MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHERE THEY WERE DRIVING. ROSS SAYS HIS FAMILY EVENTUALLY MADE IT OUT SAFELY, BUT THEIR HOME AND MUCH OF THEIR FARMING EQUIPMENT WERE DESTROYED. IT WAS TERRIFYING AND JUST THE THOUGHT OF, YOU KNOW, LOSING ALL YOUR PERSONAL THINGS AND THINK SOME THINGS YOU KNOW, YOU CAN’T REPLACE. BUT LUCKILY WE MADE IT OUT TOGETHER AND IT WAS JUST A MOMENT OF FEAR, YOU KNOW? ROSS ALSO SAYS WHILE THEIR HOME AND MUCH OF THEIR FARM EQUIPMENT ARE GONE, THE SUPPORT FROM NEIGHBORS AND THE COMMUNITY HAS HELPED HIS FAMILY BEGIN TO RECOVER. OLIVE MOORE ROSS AND HIS FAMILY’S EXPERIENCE
Garden County sheriff loses home as wildfires sweep across western Nebraska
As wildfires tear across western Nebraska, one county sheriff is now experiencing the devastation firsthand.
Updated: 6:38 PM CDT Mar 14, 2026
Editorial Standards ⓘ
Garden County Sheriff Randy Ross says his family narrowly escaped as flames quickly surrounded their home while he was helping respond to the wildfire threatening the area.Ross said he had been working with emergency crews evacuating residents Thursday night when strong winds suddenly shifted direction, sending the fire toward his property.He rushed home to help his family gather a few belongings and get out.“It was terrifying,” Ross said. “Just the thought of losing all your personal things. Luckily, we made it out together.”READ MORE: Wildfires in western Nebraska kill one person, blazes rage onRoss says when his family stepped outside to leave, flames were already surrounding their home.“We walk out the door, and there’s fire on the east side of us, and the west side was already going around us,” Ross said. “So we hurry up and get going.”The sheriff says thick smoke made it nearly impossible to see as the family tried to escape down rural roads.At one point, Ross says he could no longer see his family’s vehicle behind him as they drove through the smoke.“That was probably the scariest part of it. I’m looking in my mirrors, and I can’t see my family’s headlights behind me,” Ross said. Ross and his family were eventually able to escape safely, but their home, along with much of the farming equipment he relies on, was destroyed in the fire. MORE COVERAGE: Gov. Jim Pillen, other state lawmakers survey wildfires that have devastated multiple parts of NebraskaDespite the loss, Ross says the support from neighbors and the community has been overwhelming.“The community has gone above and beyond,” Ross said. “They’ve brought us clothes, meals, toiletries, just great community support.”Now, Ross hopes his experience serves as a reminder for others across Nebraska as wildfire risks continue.“If responders are saying you should go, please go,” Ross said. “We can rebuild things, but you can’t replace a life.”Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Garden County Sheriff Randy Ross says his family narrowly escaped as flames quickly surrounded their home while he was helping respond to the wildfire threatening the area.
Ross said he had been working with emergency crews evacuating residents Thursday night when strong winds suddenly shifted direction, sending the fire toward his property.
He rushed home to help his family gather a few belongings and get out.
“It was terrifying,” Ross said. “Just the thought of losing all your personal things. Luckily, we made it out together.”
READ MORE: Wildfires in western Nebraska kill one person, blazes rage on
Ross says when his family stepped outside to leave, flames were already surrounding their home.
“We walk out the door, and there’s fire on the east side of us, and the west side was already going around us,” Ross said. “So we hurry up and get going.”
The sheriff says thick smoke made it nearly impossible to see as the family tried to escape down rural roads.
At one point, Ross says he could no longer see his family’s vehicle behind him as they drove through the smoke.
“That was probably the scariest part of it. I’m looking in my mirrors, and I can’t see my family’s headlights behind me,” Ross said.
Ross and his family were eventually able to escape safely, but their home, along with much of the farming equipment he relies on, was destroyed in the fire.
MORE COVERAGE: Gov. Jim Pillen, other state lawmakers survey wildfires that have devastated multiple parts of Nebraska
Despite the loss, Ross says the support from neighbors and the community has been overwhelming.
“The community has gone above and beyond,” Ross said. “They’ve brought us clothes, meals, toiletries, just great community support.”
Now, Ross hopes his experience serves as a reminder for others across Nebraska as wildfire risks continue.
“If responders are saying you should go, please go,” Ross said. “We can rebuild things, but you can’t replace a life.”
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Comments are closed.