Part of a prayer service at Kirwin United Methodist Church on Wednesday night was a healing service where those gathered laid hands on two men standing in for two critically injured Kirwin firefighters recuperating in a Kearney, Neb., hospital.

"One of the guys woke up today," Pastor Nancy Harris-Ott said Thursday. "Maybe we connected. I hope so."

She was referring to firefighter Chester Peak, who was hit by the back doors of an exploding tractor-trailer Tuesday night, a disaster that injured six firefighters, destroyed two fire trucks and plunged this northwest Kansas community of about 200 into a state of shock.

Peak and fellow firefighter Rex Lowe were airlifted to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Peak suffered head injuries and a broken nose, while Lowe suffered serious wounds to his back.

By mid-afternoon Thursday, family members of the men were reporting — through an Internet journal they had set up to keep friends and relatives apprised of their condition — that Peak had woken up, out-muscled three people and taken out his own ventilator tube.

"He's talking. He said that he's tired of lying around," the journal entry said. He was later able to stay awake long enough to move from his bed to a chair, with assistance.

Lowe was also reported to be awake and talking after his ventilator was removed.

"We are working on getting him new glasses and his laptop so he will be able to feel your love," a journal entry said. A later entry noted that Lowe got out of bed, took a shower, walked down the hall and even had someone get him a cheeseburger and fries.

Peak was still officially listed in critical condition at the hospital Thursday and Lowe in serious condition.

The two men were the most seriously hurt in the incident.

Officials said flaming debris from the wooden roof of the town's water tower, which was being repaired, showered down and caught the back tires of the semitrailer on fire about 7 p.m. Tuesday. The fire built and sparked two explosions inside the enclosed trailer — which contained an acetylene gas welding cylinder and flammable liquids — catching the firefighters standing outside the trailer by surprise.

In addition to Low and Peak, four other Kirwin firefighters were taken to area hospitals and released after treatment.

Two firefighting trucks from the Kirwin department were heavily damaged. Both were grass-fire-response units with small water tanks and pumps on board.

By Thursday there were already efforts under way to help the injured and the Kirwin volunteer fire department recuperate financially from the devastating loss.

The Plainville Fire Department is organizing a barbecue fundraiser to support the victims and their department. An account for donations was also set up at the Farmers National Bank in Phillipsburg.

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Mr. K's Food Town at Jefferson and South First streets in Plainville, barbecue will be sold with the proceeds going to the Kirwin Fire Department, said Plainville Fire Chief Craig Wise.

"We had our own trouble in April with losing equipment and having firemen hurt," he said. "We want to help. They're firefighters just like us and that's what we can do."

Wise was referring to oil tank fires in April north of Codell that sent six firefighters to the hospital and destroyed two trucks and two oil tanks. Investigators suspected that fire was ignited by a lightening strike.

Harris-Ott said about 40 people attended the Wednesday night service, which included Scripture, prayers and the laying on of hands. Peak is a member of her congregation. Lowe is a member of the Kensington United Methodist Church. His pastor, Becky Saddler, also participated in the service, which lasted for about 45 minutes.

"We all came together when we needed each other, because everybody is concerned," Harris-Ott said. She described the community as "having a little post-traumatic stress right now."

The blast and the aftermath was echoing beyond Kirwin, to other cities, including Salina, where some of the victims are known for their participation with the Boy Scouts. Lowe has been a ranger and camp director for the Dane G. Hansen Scout Reservation, southwest of Kirwin.

As camp ranger, Lowe was the full-time staff person who takes care of the Hansen facility. Dan Johnson, another firefighter who was treated and released, is also a scouting volunteer and had helped in the past with the national Scout Jamboree in Washington, D.C. Peak's wife is also a cubmaster for a Cub Scout pack in Kirwin.