GERING- For the second summer in a row, residents in the Nebraska panhandle are watching their homes and neighborhoods suffer from a wildfire.

The wildfire raged through out the weekend claiming over 15,000 acres of land and homes across Carter Canyon and beyond.

As of August 1st, fire officials announced that the fire is estimated to be 33% contained with a lot of work remaining to secure the area. Residents of the affected areas were evacuated by local law enforcement, leaving behind their homes, livestock, and a day to day responsibilities.

Firefighters are working hard to preserve residents and their homes, but officials confirmed that three homes had been completely destroyed and several others sustained damage thus far.

Gering resident and ranch owner Cassy Eskam said, "Every time I hear there’s a fire, it scares me." Followed by, "We have barely gotten any rain out by us this year. I prayed over and over for them to please get (the fires) contained before it spreads to our farm.”

The fire did end up approaching the ranch due to a sudden wind change that directed the wildfire east.

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