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Structure fire
After Nebraska Public Power District linemen shut off electrical power to the east complex of McCook Apartments at 906 East E, City of McCook, Nebraska, firefighter Fred Pinkal douses a smoldering fire behind an electrical panel box about 3 p.m., Monday. Discovering flames upon their approach, firefighters initially used a dry powder extinguisher to put down the fire. Fire Chief Marc Harpham, right, and firefighter/paramedic Mark Eiler searched for evidence of the cause of the fire after the electrical panel was pulled away from the wall and firefighters cut away some siding. Harpham said this morning that the fire was not electrical in nature, but its point of origin was on a wooden ledge between the electrical panel and the exterior wall of the apartment structure. The cause of the fire was undetermined, Harpham said. Harpham estimated damages at $10,000, including those to the structure caused by the fire and by firefighting efforts, and the potential loss of residents' refrigerated foods caused by the lack of electricity. American Red Cross representatives arranged for temporary housing for eight residents, Harpham said.
