Blaze burns Bell Street home in Beatrice

BEATRICE - No injuries were reported in a house fire Monday night, in southeast Beatrice. Firefighters were dispatched to a home at 1315 Bell, initially reported as a grass fire, then a shed fire.

Firefighters arriving saw smoke and flames coming from the roof. Chief Brian Daake said it appeared the fire started in the upper part of the structure above the kitchen, at the rear of the home.

"It looks like the fire has been burning for quite some time. The guys got in there, and had it knocked down."

The department’s aerial ladder truck was brought to the scene after the initial call but was not needed. The city electric department of the city was summoned and shut off the power to the house, remotely.  Firefighters had extinguished the blaze just before 8 p.m.

At least two persons were believed to be in the house but got out safely. Firefighters contacted the American Red Cross to help handle living arrangements for the occupants, who were displaced from the home.

A Nebraska Fire Marshal investigator was called to help determine the cause of the fire. Firefighters remained on the scene to put out some hotspots in the home. They wrapped up work and left the scene at about 11:20 p.m.

An estimate of the fire damage was not immediately available.