On Tuesday, October 29, 2024, a fire was reported east of the intersection of 632 Road and Highway 136. As the fire expanded and moved north towards Brock, seven fire departments quickly responded. The responding departments included Johnson, Brock, Tecumseh, Julian, Talmage, Auburn and Elk Creek. It was reported that the fire, which began alongside Highway 136, burned north and northwest until it was contained just south of Coryell Park. No houses or outbuildings were reported to have sustained any damage from the fires.
Nemaha County Emergency Management alerted the Village of Brock and several surrounding residents, advising them to evacuate for their safety. The Johnson Rescue Squad, Brock trustees, and local volunteers assisted in notifying residents to evacuate. Nemaha County Emergency Management also arranged for evacuees to stay at Auburn’s Wellness Center until they could return to their homes, as well as getting in contact with various emergency management agencies including Southeast Nebraska Incident Management to provide resourses to the crews fighting the fires.
Incident Commanders Travis Knippelmeyer and Darwin McCollum coordinated the firefighting efforts. Frontier Cooperative, Nutrien Ag Solutions and volunteers from out of town provided water supplies for the firefighters. Meanwhile, over 20 local farmers helped by tilling the ground with tractors and discs.
