A circle in the fire

Notes from a Plains boy

In August 2006, almost twenty years ago, I took a summer road trip by myself to Western Nebraska. I reached the panhandle on a hot summer evening and set up my tent within the hilly, pine-covered state park near Chadron. My plan was to settle there a few days and explore even farther west near Toadstool Park.

After I set up camp, a ranger came by and told me I had to evacuate. Fire was cresting over the ridge just across from me. He showed me the next ridge over where the pine trees were popping and exploding into flames.