‘Insanely lucky’: Injured firefighter back at work one year after Lancaster County wildfire

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Brad Elder was burned in a wildfire last October, and one year later, he’s back to doing what he loves.

On Oct. 23, 2022, Elder was fighting a blaze in Lancaster County with Crete Fire & Rescue when the wind switched directions.

He was engulfed in flames.

“I’m just lucky, insanely lucky,” Elder said. “There’s so many steps that needed to come together to keep me alive just to get to the hospital. It’s crazy.”

SEE ALSO: Fundraiser for injured Crete firefighter raises over $10,000

Around 25% of his body was severely burned, and he spent months in the hospital.

But in January, he was able to return home to Crete.

On Monday, the one-year-anniversary of his injuries, he said he’s doing much better.

“I’m about 90% back to where I was strength-wise,” Elder said. “It was supposed to take 2½ years, so that’s pretty good speed.”

SEE ALSO: Injured Crete firefighter says community support is ‘staggering’ through his recovery

Elder went back to work as a professor at Doane University.

But he wasn’t sure if he’d ever be able to fight fires again.

“At 55, maybe, you know, it’s time to stop running into burning buildings,” he said. “But it’s part of what I do. I’ve been a prescribed firefighter and wildland firefighter for 30-some years, and I love every minute of it.”

SEE ALSO: ‘Can’t thank them enough’: Volunteers were first firefighters at Lancaster County wildfires

Once his body healed enough, he went back to Crete Fire & Rescue.

“The first prescribed fire I was on, it was a blast,” he said. “It was like going to Disney World. Grinning ear to ear. It’s great to be back; it’s great to be doing what I love.”

In fact, on Sunday, the day before the year anniversary, he was out fighting a grass fire.

SEE ALSO: Century-old home near Hallam survives Lancaster County wildfire

He has stayed optimistic, though the past year was full of obstacles.

“I knew the battle wasn’t going to be my body; it was going to be my mind,” Elder said. “And I decided at the beginning that I was going to have to really work on being positive and seeing this as a positive event.”

Elder said he knew what had happened to him was awful, but he had to think ahead.

“When you’re done with it, you can look back at it and say, ‘I did that,'” he said.

SEE ALSO: Nebraska fire investigator determines cause of destructive Lancaster County wildfire