Menu
Fatal fire under investigation
INDIANOLA, Neb. — Red Willow County Attorney Paul Wood confirmed mid-morning that there was a fatality in a house fire south of Indianola early this morning.
Wood said the investigation into the fire continues with three investigators from the Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Office, whose mobile command center arrived on the scene about 6 a.m.
Wood said that he cannot release the name of a victim, nor confirm that there may be additional victims.
The American Red Cross issued a press release at 7:48 a.m. today that it providing assistance after a house fire affecting a family of four. Coworkers of one of the victims were reportedly told three members of the family were killed.
Wood said that a family member was able to get out of the burning house, and based on what she was able to tell Red Willow County Sheriff’s Deputy Joe Ernst, who was first to arrive on the scene, the investigation continues.
Indianola fire chief Tom Davidson said his firefighters were paged out shortly after midnight, and he requested mutual aid from the City of McCook and Red Willow Western Rural fire departments.
The house is located south of Indianola, across the Republican River bridge and east about a quarter-mile on the blacktop. It was a one-story house with a basement. The house is a total loss, Wood said.
Davidson said the house was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived. Davidson was thankful for assistance from McCook and Red Willow Western firefighters and their equipment.
Wood said he will release more details as the investigation continues.
Sheriff Alan Kotschwar said the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army are providing assistance to the family member able to get out of the house.