Firefighters encounter heavy smoke, high heat before extinguishing Columbus house fire

COLUMBUS, Neb. – Nobody is injured but a house is damaged after an overnight fire in Columbus.

It happened around 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday in the 1300 block of E. 23rd St., which is just north of Highway 30 on the east side of town. According to a city news release, fire crews encountered heavy smoke and high heat conditions emanating from the basement of the residence. Fire Chief Ryan Gray says firefighters rapidly searched the house and found the seat of the fire.

“The blaze was quickly brought under control and extinguished," Gray said. "Damage was contained to the residence, and no neighboring structures were affected.”

Nobody was inside the house at the time of the fire. The Nebraska State Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the cause.