Fire gutted the Nehawka Volunteer Fire Department last night but the volunteers are quickly bouncing back.

All of the volunteers' equipment, from bunker gear to fire trucks, was lost in the fire but other rural departments are picking up Nehawka's calls until the department can get back on its feet.

It doesn't look much better in the light of day. The Nehawka Volunteer Fire Department was gutted Monday night and the sunshine simply makes it easier to take inventory of the losses.

Chief Sean Huckleberry says, "All of our fire apparatus, fire trucks, right now are out of service. As far as firefighting we have nothing right now that we can use."

Nehawka will take advantage of the mutual aid agreements it has with the surrounding fire departments.

The fire is a huge setback for Nehawka but other departments in the county are covering the Nehawka Volunteer District until the department can be rebuilt. That may actually be sooner than people think; insurance companies are expediting their process and fire equipment manufacturers are stepping up as well.

Alberta Nichols is not overly concerned about the temporary loss of the Nehawka Volunteer Fire Department but she says it is nice they worked something out with the surrounding towns.

Alberta Nichols says, "Oh yeah that's right because you never know what things are going to happen just like last night. Things can happen fast."

That includes recovery, Chief Huckleberry say with loaned equipment and a little luck his department will be back at work.

Chief Sean Huckleberry says, "By the end of this week our fire department will be back up to respond with apparatus, one way or another."

Chief Huckleberry tells Channel 6 News that they have determined where the fire started but have not yet determined the cause of the fire.

Also the building will most likely be saved but will need some major repairs.