Smokey Sunday fire

Red Willow Western Rural Fire Department firefighter Zach Herrman, top, pokes a fire hose nozzle into a hole just under the smoldering roofline of the office building at JLB Welding Sunday afternoon. Assisting with the hose and ladder were Lane Cole, middle, and Weston Matson, on the ground. Firefighters were assaulted by billowing clouds of brown smoke blown by stiff south/southwest winds when they arrived about 12:30 p.m. at the welding shop location at 38387 Drive 716, just west of Orscheln’s north of McCook on Highway 83. Owner Jeremy Bain said this morning the fire is believed to have started with electrical wiring in the ceiling of the office, which sits adjacent to the welding shop. The shop was not involved in the fire. Bain said the shop and office will be closed for the week as he and his employees clean up after the fire.