Officials at F. E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne say a fire in a military Humvee carrying munitions prompted the closure of two Panhandle highways Monday afternoon, which is likely to continue Tuesday.
According to a release from the 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs Office, security forces Airmen from the 790th Missile Security Forces Squadron assigned to the Wyoming base discovered their HUMVEE was on fire while traveling Highway 71 near Kimball.
The Airmen stopped and safely exited the burning vehicle near mile marker 23, however, due to the intensity of the flames, they were unable to remove ammunition including 40 mm grenades being transported inside.
The statement says the personnel quickly contacted local emergency responders and established a safety cordon with the assistance of the Kimball County Sheriff, and Kimball Fire departments, with the Nebraska State Patrol and Nebraska Department of Transportation also on scene.
NDOT issued notifications around 2 p.m. of the complete closure of Highway 71 from Kimball to Gering, and Highway 88 from Bridgeport to Highway 71. About two hours later, the Highway 71 closure was reduced, starting at Kimball and ending near the Harrisburg turnoff, and eastbound traffic was allowed on Highway 88.
Kimball County emergency officials extinguished the flames from the totalled vehicle, nearby grass and field areas following the fire, with no injuries reported.
For public safety, the NSP is expected maintain the road closures into Tuesday, with USAF Security Forces securing the Humvee. A team from the 90th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight will conduct a series of controlled detonations Tuesday to render the scene safe, and residents may hear several detonations throughout the day.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time, and the incident is under investigation.
