BEATRICE – Firefighters in southeast Nebraska were on the scene of an early-morning house fire, Friday.


Beatrice Firefighters were dispatched to a two-story brick home with an attic, at 523 North 5th…at around 1:20 a.m. The owners of the home were escaping the house while firefighters were enroute and were not injured.  Arriving personnel saw smoke and discovered a fire originating in the basement of the home. Captain Jeremy Seggerman talks about the cause of the fire.


"We did have an investigator from the Nebraska State Fire Marshal's Office come out and after he was done investigating, he determined it was an accidental electrical fire....he thought some wiring in the basement."


Fire damage was confined to three separate rooms located in the basement. 

"There was smoke damage essentially throughout the house and then water damage in the basement...and a little bit of water damage on the first floor."  Property damage was estimated at $75,000. 


Two pet cats and a dog were rescued from the home…..firefighters using an oxygen mask to revive one of the cats.. Twelve firefighters fought the blaze. A pumper truck, aerial ladder truck, and two ambulances responded to the scene.  Also responding were Beatrice Police, Board of Public Works electric staff and Black Hills Energy.  


Firefighters used three hose lines and hooked to a nearby hydrant at 5th and Lincoln. Fire personnel were on the scene until about 6:20 Friday morning.