BEATRICE – An early morning fire destroyed a rural home in southeast Nebraska, Thursday morning.
Wymore, Blue Springs and Beatrice Rural Firefighters fought the blaze in minus-14-degree temperature conditions, southeast of Beatrice.


The house that burned is located at the intersection of South 36th and East Linden Drive, less than a mile west of the village of Holmesville.


Beatrice Rural Fire Chief Matt Langley says firefighters could only attack the flames from the outside of the house. "The tin roof is the biggest problem in this house. It just traps all that heat in...and we can't get in. When we got here, the fire was burning up from the basement and so the floor was compromised. There was no way we can get in there."


One male occupant at the home and a pet escaped the fire without injury. In addition to Wymore and Beatrice Rural fire trucks and other vehicles at the scene, a Beatrice Fire and Rescue ambulance was on standby at the scene.  Flames broke through the walls and roof of the structure. 

Blue Springs Fire Chief Aaron McCrimmon says the homeowner was alerted by a smoke detector at 3 a.m.  When Blue Springs and Wymore fire crews arrived, entry to the home was attempted but was prevented by ceiling and insulation falling.  The fire had already spread down a wall into the basement, compromising the first floor.

McCrimmon said the home was a total loss and the cause of the blaze is believed to be an electrical problem in an upstairs bedroom.

Farm buildings nearby, located south and west of the house were not damaged.  No firefighters were injured fighting the blaze.