Seeing flames, Kearney man didn't hesitate. He ran into the camper and saved a woman's life. MARY JANE SKALA, KEARNEY HUB Aug 8, 2026 10 hrs ago 0 × Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save (Editor’s note: Because both Prebles are named Chris, this story refers to the husband as Preble and his wife as Chris to avoid confusion.)kAm~? 2 H9:>[ r9C:D !C63=6 2?5 9:D H:76 r9C:D 564:565 E@ 9625 5@H? E@ w2C=2? {2<6 E96 H66<6?5 @7 yF?6 `a\`c E@ 8@ 42>A:?8]k^AmkAm}@H[ E96 z62C?6J 4@FA=6 36=:6G6D E92E 564:D:@? H2D 5:G:?6 AC@G:56?46] $@ 5@6D yF5J tC:4<D@? @7 r2>A36==]k^AmkAm!C63=6 C6D4F65 tC:4<D@? 2?5 D2G65 96C =:76 H96? D96 H2D EC2AA65 :?D:56 96C 3FC?:?8 42>A6C 2E w2C=2? {2<6] “x H@F=5?’E 36 E2=<:?8 E@ J@F C:89E ?@H :7 96 925?’E D2G65 >6[” D96 D2:5]k^Am People are also reading… Elm Creek community gathers in vigil for teen victims of crash Nebraska football in the mix for four-star offensive tackle Police say 4 Omaha teens went on crime spree at Lincoln Target, Super Saver, Dick's Nebraska football continuing to focus on particular position in 2028 McKewon: Matt Rhule gave Dana Holgorsen the 'pieces' — time for Nebraska's OC to cook Game and Parks investigating drowning of 7-year-old boy at Lake Mac Nebraska volleyball star unsure of future after this season Nebraska football has clean bill of health for four key starters Nebraska receives votes in preseason edition of US LBM Coaches Poll A 6 a.m. call, a 7:30 commitment: Averi Bridges details her pledge to Penn State Nebraska coach Matt Rhule reveals identity he wants for team in 2026 Nebraska tight end target has revealing quote on recruitment Police looking into money missing from Grand Island youth sports club Regional air traffic control issues disrupt flights at Eppley, other Midwest airports Indiana, Notre Dame got hosed, SEC got too much love in coaches poll | Hot takes Chris Preble sits with her husband, Chris. His arm is bandaged after skin grafts to repair burns he suffered in the fire. MARY JANE SKALA, KEARNEY HUB kAm~? yF?6 `c[ tC:4<D@? H2D 6IA64E:?8 a_ C6=2E:G6D 7@C 3CF?49[ D@ 62C=J E92E >@C?:?8 D96 3682? 4@@<:?8 @? E96 82D DE@G6 :?D:56 E96:C #'] w6C 9FD32?5 |:<6 H2D H@C<:?8 @FED:56 @? 9:D 3@2E]k^AmkAm$96 EFC?65 E96 7=2>6 @? E96 3FC?6C 5@H? E@ =@H W“32C6=J 2 7=2>6”X 2?5 7@C8@E 23@FE :E] (:E9@FE E9:?<:?8[ D96 D6E 2 =2C86 A=2DE:4 4FEE:?8 3@2C5 @? E@A @7 E96 DE@G6 D@ D96 4@F=5 49@A G686E23=6D] %96? D96 962565 :?E@ E96 32E9C@@> E@ E2<6 2 D9@H6C]k^AmkAm“(96? x H6?E :?E@ E96 365C@@> E@ 86E 5C6DD65[ x E9@F89E x 962C5 D@>63@5J J6==:?8[” D96 D2:5] “x 5:5?’E D>6== 2?JE9:?8 3642FD6 x =@DE >J D6?D6 @7 D>6== H96? x 925 r~'xs :? a_a_]”k^Am kAm$F556?=J[ 49@<:?8 3=24< D>@<6 7:==65 E96 365C@@>] tC:4<D@? EC:65 E@ @A6? E96 D=:5:?8 8=2DD 5@@C 36EH66? E96 365C@@> 2?5 32E9C@@> 2?5 E96 C6DE @7 E96 #'[ 3FE D96 3FC?65 96C 92?5 H96? D96 AFE :E @? 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E96C6[” !C63=6 D2:5] “x 5:5?’E E9:?<] x ;FDE 24E65]”k^Am kAmw6 3C:67=J E9@F89E @7 =@@<:?8 7@C 2 7:C6 6IE:?8F:D96C[ “3FE x ;FDE C2? FA 7@FC @C 7:G6 DE6AD E@ 86E :?E@ E96 42>A6C 2?5 E96? EFC?65 C:89E 2?5 H6?E EH@ >@C6 DE6AD FA :?E@ E96 365C@@>] x 4@F=5 962C 96C D4C62>:?8 7@C 96=A[” 96 D2:5]k^AmkAm%96 E9:4< 3=24< D>@<6 3=:?565 9:>[ 3FE 96 <6AE >@G:?8 E@H2C5 E96 D4C62>D] “x DEF4< >J 92?5D @FE 2?5 76=E 96C E@CD@] x E@=5 96C[ ‘%2<6 >J 92?5[’ 2?5 D96 5:5] x 362C\9F8865 96C 2?5 DE2CE65 5C288:?8 96C @FE[” 96 D2:5]k^Am kAmtC:4<D@? C642==65[ “%96 ?6IE E9:?8 x <?6H[ 2 >2? H2D :? 96C6] x C6>6>36C C6249:?8 7@C 9:>] w6 8C23365 >J 92?5 2?5 96 42CC:65 >6 @FE] x H2D 5:D@C:6?E65] x 5@?’E <?@H 9@H 96 8@E E92E D=:5:?8 8=2DD 5@@C 5@H?[ 3FE 96 5:5[” D96 D2:5]k^Am kAmr2CCJ:?8 tC:4<D@? ?@H[ !C63=6 9FCC:65 E@H2C5 E96 42>A6C 5@@C] “u=2>6D H6C6 :? E96 <:E496? 2C62] x H6?E 324<H2C5D[ 2?5 x 76== 5@H?[ 3FE x A:4<65 >JD6=7 FA 2?5 5C28865 FD 3@E9 @FED:56] (2:DE\9:89 7=2>6D H6C6 4@>:?8 @FE @7 E96 42>A6C 5@@C[ 3FE x 8@E @FE 2?5 x =2:5 96C @? E96 8C@F?5[” 96 D2:5]k^Am kAmr9C:D H2D @FED:56 H2E49:?8 2?5 9@==6C:?8] “xE H2D D42CJ H2E49:?8 E96> 4@>6 5@H? E96 DE2:CD[” D96 D2:5] “w6 D6E yF5J 5@H?[ E96? C2? 2?@E96C d 766E] %96? 96 DE@AA65[ 5C@AA65 2?5 C@==65]”k^Am The burns on the back of Chris Preble's head looked like this right after he raced out of the burning camper. COURTESY, CHRIS PREBLE kAm%96? !C63=6 D2E FA @? E96 8C@F?5 :? D9@4<] w6 5:5?’E C62=:K6 96 925 3FC?D @? E96 324< @7 9:D 9625[ 9:D C:89E 7@@E[ 9:D 2C> 2?5 aa 3FC? DA@ED @? 9:D 324<]k^Am kAm“x 76=E =:<6 x H2D @? 7:C6[ 3FE x E9:?< :E H2D >6=E:?8 A=2DE:4 2?5 7:36C8=2DD[” 96 D2:5] Q%96 D:56 @7 E96 42>A6C[ E96 A2?6=:?8 2?5 E96 C@@7 H6C6 2== A=2DE:4]Qk^Am kAmr9C:D D2H A=2DE:4 @? 9:>[ “2?5 x H2D 27C2:5 :7 96 5:5?’E 86E 9:D D9:CE @77[ E96 D9:CE H@F=5 DE:4< E@ 9:>] !=2DE:4 H2D >6=E65 E@ 9:D 7@@E[” D96 D2:5]k^AmkAmr@C6J }:6=D6? 7C@> w2DE:?8D D2H E96 3=2K6 7C@> 9:D 3@2E 2?5 42>6 CF??:?8 H:E9 2 7:C6 6IE:?8F:D96C] }6:893@CD 96=A65 6IE:?8F:D9 E96 7=2>6D]k^Amk9amp>3F=2?46D 2CC:G65k^9amkAmp>3F=2?46D 2CC:G65 7C@> E96 G:==286 @7 p=>2] tC:4<D@? H2D E2<6? E@ E96 w2C=2? r@F?EJ |65:42= r6?E6C[ E96? 2:C=:7E65 E@ E96 3FC? 46?E6C 2E rwx w62=E9 $E] t=:K236E9 :? {:?4@=?]k^Am kAm$96 DF776C65 7:CDE\ 2?5 D64@?5\568C66 3FC?D @? 96C C:89E D9@F=56C[ 7@C62C> 2?5 324<] $96 2=D@ DF776C65 D>@<6 :?92=2E:@?[ 3FE D96 H2D :? E96 EC2F>2 46?E6C 7@C ;FDE EH@ 52JD] “%96J 9FCCJ FA[ 7:I J@F 2?5 AFD9 J@F @FE[” D96 D2:5]k^AmkAm!C63=6 H2D E2<6? 3J 2 rwx w62=E9 v@@5 $2>2C:E2? 2>3F=2?46 E@ rwx w62=E9 $E] t=:K236E9] r9C:D 7@==@H65 :? 96C G69:4=6] “%92E 2>3F=2?46 925 ?@ D:C6?[ 3FE E96 2>@F?E @7 42CD H9@ 4FE >6 @77 2?5 E2:=82E65 E96 2>3F=2?46 2??@J65 >6[” D96 D2:5k^Am kAmpE E96 9@DA:E2=’D 3FC? F?:E[ >65:42= A6CD@??6= 3682? D4C2A:?8 “5625 DEF77” @77 @7 !C63=6 H:E9 2 <?:76 E92E =@@<65 =:<6 2 36?E 3FEE6C <?:76] w6 925 D64@?5\568C66 3FC?D @? E96 324< @7 9:D 9625 2?5 E9:C5\568C66 3FC?D @? 9:D =67E 2C>]k^Am Preble suffered third-degree burns on his right arm. They looked like this about two weeks after the fire.. COURTESY, CHRIS PREBLE kAm“$@>6 D<:? H2D 3=:DE6C65[ 2?5 E96J E@@< E92E @77[ 3FE D@>6 H2D =67E 2=@?6] x 5@?’E <?@H 9@H E96J 2DD6DD65 :E[” 96 D2:5] “%96 ?FCD6D H6C6 2>2K:?8]”k^AmkAmw6 H2D C6=62D65 2E ?@@? E96 ?6IE 52J]k^Amk9am$4CF33:?8 E96 3FC?Dk^9amkAmu@C E96 ?6IE 76H H66<D[ E96 !C63=6D’ ?6H=J C6>@56=65 32E9C@@> 3642>6 =:<6 2 9@DA:E2= C@@>] r9C:D 925 E@ D4CF3 96C 9FD32?5’D 3FC?D EH:46 2 52J] xE H2D 2? :?E6?D6=J A2:?7F= AC@465FC6]k^Am kAmpD !C63=6 D2E :? E96 D9@H6C[ D96 C6>@G65 9:D 32?5286D[ AFE s:2= D@2A @? 2 H2D94=@E9 2?5 H2D965 E96 3FC?D] “(96? D96 H2D965 >J 9625[ E92E D@2AJ H2D94=@E9 76=E =:<6 2 DE66= 3CFD9] xE 9FCE] x 4C:65] x H@F=5?’E H:D9 :E @? 2?J3@5J[” 96 D2:5]k^Am kAm$96 925 D92G65 9:D 9625[ 2?5 “x 4@F=5 766= 6G6CJ 7:36C @7 E92E H2D94=@E9[” 96 D2:5]k^AmkAm!C63=6 E@@< %J=6?@= 2?5 A2:? >65:42E:@? 367@C6 6249 AC@465FC6[ 3FE “96 4C:65[ 2?5 :E 3C@<6 >J 962CE[” D2:5 r9C:D[ 2 C6E:C65 7:7E9\8C256 E62496C 2E qF772=@ w:==D t=6>6?E2CJ]k^Am kAm“x 925 E@ :?7=:4E E96 A2:? 2?5 H2E49 9:> 4CJ] xE C:AA65 >J 962CE @FE[ 3FE x 925 E@ 5@ :E] x ?66565 E@ DE2J 7@4FD65] x H2D?’E D4CF33:?8 92C5[ 3FE x 925 E@ >2<6 DFC6 ?@ :?764E:@? D6E :?[” D96 D2:5]k^AmkAm$96 E96? 2AA=:65 $:=G25:?6 4C62>[ 2 E@A:42= 2?E:3:@E:4[ E@ E96 3FC?D 2?5 HC2AA65 E96> FA] “xE E@@< h_ >:?FE6D EH:46 2 52J 2E 7:CDE[ 3FE H6 8@E E92E 5@H? E@ d_ >:?FE6D[” D96 D2:5]k^Am kAm“x’> ?@E 2 ?FCD6[ 2?5 x <6AE H@CCJ:?8 H96E96C x H2D 5@:?8 E96 C:89E E9:?8[ D@ H6 D6?E E96 ?FCD6D A:4EFC6D] %96J E2=<65 FD E9C@F89 :E[” D96 25565]k^Am Healing from burns has been slow and painful, but Preble believes that divine intervention allowed him to save Judy Erickson's life. COURTESY, CHRIS PREBLE kAm!C63=6’D 3FC?D =@@<65 5:776C6?E 6G6CJ 52J[ “(6 E9@F89E H6’5 E2<6 A:4EFC6D 6G6CJ E9C66 52JD[ 3FE 6G6CJ E:>6 H6 492?865 E96 5C6DD:?8[ E96 3FC?D H6C6 5:776C6?E 4@=@CD[” D96 D2:5]k^AmkAm|62?H9:=6[ ?6:893@CD 5C@G6 E96 !C63=6D’ 42>A6C 324< E@ z62C?6J[ >@H65 E96:C =2H? 2?5 >@C6]k^Amk9am‘xE DE:== D66>D DFCC62=’k^9amkAmpD E96J 962=65[ !C63=6 2?5 tC:4<D@? DE2J65 :? E@F49] %96J 3@E9 925 2AA@:?E>6?ED 2E $E] t=:K236E9 @? E96 D2>6 52J 6G6CJ H66<[ D@ E96J 4@>A2C65 ?@E6D]k^Am kAm“%96 3FC?D @? >J D9@F=56C H6C6 E96 H@CDE[ 3FE E96 >@DE A2:?7F= H6C6 @? >J 324<[” tC:4<D@? D2:5] “x 4@F=5?’E D:E] p 8@@5 7C:6?5 96=A65 492?86 >J 32?5286D EH:46 2 52J]”k^Am kAm~? yF=J h[ !C63=6 C6EFC?65 E@ {:?4@=? 7@C 2? @FEA2E:6?E DFC8:42= AC@465FC6 E@ 92G6 D<:? 8C27ED @? 9:D C:89E 2C>] %96 2C> H2D D64FC6=J 32?52865 7@C D6G6C2= H66<D[ 3FE E96 DE2A=6D H6C6 C6>@G65 yF=J aa[ 2?5 96 :D 324< E@ A=2J:?8 8@=7 2?5 H@C<:?8 2D 2? 6=64EC:42= 3FJ6C 2E z:5H6==]k^AmkAm%96 !C63=6D[ A2C6?ED @7 E9C66 8C@H? 49:=5C6?[ 92G6 AFC492D65 >@C6 7:C6 6IE:?8F:D96CD[ :?4=F5:?8 7@C E96:C <:E496?[ E96:C 42>A6C 2?5 E96:C 3@2E]k^Am kAm“(6 5:5?’E 92G6 @?6 :? E96 <:E496?[ H96C6 2 =@E @7 7:C6D >:89E DE2CE] *@F 5@?’E C62=:K6 9@H 72DE 2 7:C6 42? 92AA6?[” r9C:D D2:5]k^Am kAm|62?H9:=6[ E96 tC:4<D@?D[ 3@E9 C6E:C65 4FDE@> 92CG6DE6CD[ 92G6 AFC492D65 2?@E96C 42>A6C] {2DE H66<6?5[ E96J C6EFC?65 E@ w2C=2? {2<6 2?5 DE2J65 :? E96:C ?6H 42>A6C 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 D:?46 E96 7:C6]k^AmkAm“x H2D 2 =:EE=6 2?EDJ] x >256 |:<6 D9FE E96 AC@A2?6 @77 7@C E96 ?:89E[ 3FE x E9:?< x’== 36 7:?6[” D96 D2:5]k^Am kAmtC:4<D@? 4@?E:?F6D E@ 4964< FA @? !C63=6[ 2?5 96 :D E@F4965 3J E92E] “%92E >256 :E 2== H@CE9 :E[” 96 D2:5]k^AmkAm%96 !C63=6D DE:== E2=< 23@FE E96 7:C6 ?62C=J 6G6CJ 52J] QxE DE:== D66>D DFCC62=[” r9C:D D2:5]k^Am kAm%96 4@FA=6 2C6 566A=J 8C2E67F= E@ 6G6CJ@?6 H9@ 96=A65 E96> 2?5 tC:4<D@?[ 7C@> 5@4E@CD 2?5 ?FCD6D E@ 7C:6?5D[ 72>:=J[ 4@H@C<6CD 2?5 ?6:893@CD] Q*@F 7:?5 @FE G6CJ BF:4<=J H92E J@F >62? E@ E9@D6 2C@F?5 J@F[Q !C63=6 D2:5]k^Am kAm“x 92G6 ?@ C68C6ED[Q 96 25565] Qx ;FDE H2?E E@ 962= 2?5 >@G6 @?]”k^Am maryjane.skala@kearneyhub.com 0 Comments Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. 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