Columbus fire crew responds to ambulance fire

COLUMBUS, Neb. -- The Columbus Fire Department responded to an ambulance on fire, early Monday morning. 

CFD said they were dispatched around midnight Monday to Husker Helicopter in the 41800 block of 48th Ave. to the reported ambulance on fire. 

Columbus Fire Chief Ryan Gray said that when fire crews arrived they found a Priority Medical ambulance heavily on fire. 

Gray said that crews were able to quickly reduce the fire. 

While there were no injuries, Gray said that the ambulance was a total loss. 

According to CFD, one or more of the onboard oxygen tanks exploded, which caused some moderate damage to the nearby structure. 

Gray said the ambulance crew stated that there had been an electrical error message displayed on the unit and they began to smell smoke.

Not too long after, authorities reported that they noticed the ambulance was on fire and called the fire department. 

"Thankfully the ambulance crew recognized the potential problem and parked the unit outside instead of the ambulance bay where they normally park," said Columbus Assistant Fire Chief Nathan Jone. "If they had parked the unit inside there would have been a much greater potential for significant structural damage and injuries."

Columbus Fire said the fire was deemed to be electrical in nature.