“The 2012 fire season opened the eyes of a lot of firefighters, fire departments, members of the state and the public to the importance and need of being prepared, staying vigilant, trainings and funding. We don’t have a big fire season every single year, but people realized that when we do, these things are crucial. The 2012 fires were very educational for everyone,” said Justin Nickless, Fire Management Specialist at the Nebraska Forest Service and Assistant Chief for the Ainsworth Volunteer Fire Department.