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Turkey fryer blamed for house fire
A Nebraska State fire marshal and investigators from the McCook Fire Department blame heat from a turkey fryer for the Thanksgiving Day fire that destroyed a home and garage at 211 West P in McCook.
Rob Henry and his family escaped without injury after a neighbor to the west, Jeff Gleason, banged on their front door and told them the garage was burning. Firefighters responded at 2:40 p.m. to find a garage fully involved in flame and smoke.
Gleason's 12-year-old son, Logan, said he spotted the flames from Henry's garage after he walked into the living room of his home at 1514 W. Second. Fourteen-year-old Trevor Gleason said he called 911 while his dad ran across the street. The boys' mother, Kim, said the Henry family was eating and didn't know the garage was on fire. "No clue," said Trevor, thankful that everyone got out of the house without injury.
Rob Henry said, after the fire, that he had been on the north patio about 10 minutes earlier and hadn't see flames. "We'd finished (frying) the turkey and were inside eating," he said.
Firefighter/paramedic Rick Metcalf said the initial blaze spread extensively after an explosion in the garage after firefighters arrived on the scene. "That was the nitrous tank for my car," Henry said late Thursday afternoon, standing in the street looking at the charred and smoking remains of his house. The car was a sunshine-yellow 1972 Chevy Nova show car and drag racing car. (Nitrous oxide is a chemical compound used as an oxidizer in motor racing to allow an engine to burn more fuel and air and increase the engine's power output.)
Trevor Gleason said the explosion knocked him down as he stood in his front yard watching firefighters. Metcalf said there are reports that rural residents heard the explosion. Smoke from the fire could be seen almost as far north as Maywood.
Trevor Gleason said the fire got worse after the explosion.
Metcalf said the heat from the turkey fryer being used inside the garage, even after it was turned off, built up in the ceiling of the dry-walled, attached garage and something in the attic began to smolder. The fire spread quickly throughout the attic and into the basement after the explosion, he said.
Metcalf said firefighters had the fire out in 1 1/2 hours, but remained on the scene for 3 1/2 hours extinguishing hot spots. Firefighters were called back to the scene this morning about 6:15 a.m., to put out rekindling flames.
The structure suffered heavy damage throughout and the Nova is a total loss. Four other vehicles outside the structure received moderate damage, Metcalf said. Initial damages are estimated at $100,000 for the house and $150,000 for the contents.
One person inside the house was transported to Community Hospital of McCook and treated for possible smoke inhalation. The family's pet cat perished, although two dogs escaped with the family.
The American Red Cross is providing temporary housing for the family.
Metcalf reported that 17 firefighters, two pumper trucks, one ladder truck and two ambulances responded to the fire, as well as firefighters, trucks and equipment from the Red Willow Western Rural Fire Department.