---- updated story 1/22 ----

ELM CREEK, Neb. — We’re learning more about the fire that destroyed a home in rural Central Nebraska on Tuesday afternoon.

The fire started around 3:20 at a house seven miles northeast of Elm Creek, or 15 miles northwest of Kearney. Elm Creek Fire & Rescue officials say firefighters entered the house for an offensive fire attack, but due to worsening fire conditions that led to a partial roof collapse, crews were pulled out of the structure and moved into a defensive fire attack.

A news release says the homeowners evacuated the house. Rescue workers treated them on site and transported them to a local hospital. Authorities on scene initially said there were no serious injuries.

Fire crews left the scene at 8:00 but units from three departments responded again around 9:40 when the fire on the west side of the house rekindled. Firefighters cleared the scene again shortly before midnight.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office is still investigating what caused the blaze.

In total, five departments responded to the fire with 53 firefighters and 24 trucks. The fire’s location posed an additional challenge because there was no water source nearby. Tanker trucks supplied water by filling up in Elm Creek and returning to the scene.

---- original story 1/21 ----

ELM CREEK, Neb. — Nobody is injured after a house fire prompted a response from five departments in Central Nebraska.

The first call came in around 3:20 Tuesday afternoon for a fire near the intersection of Cessna Road and Midway Road, which is about six miles northeast of Elm Creek. Authorities on site say nobody in the house was injured.

The location presented an added challenge to firefighters as there was no water source nearby. Tanker trucks drove to Elm Creek to fill up and returned to the house to supply water.

Flames started to poke through the southwest side of the roof first and eventually burst through the far east corner, causing significant damage.

Fire departments from Elm Creek, Overton, Miller, Amherst and Kearney were all on site. Buffalo County Sheriff’s deputies also assisted.