$200K damage, no injuries in garage fire

Firefighters respond to a garage fire Saturday night in McCook.

Toni Rowe/Courtesy photo

McCOOK, Neb. — An estimated $200,000 in damage to a structure and contents resulted from a Saturday evening fire in McCook, but the owners were not home and no injuries were reported.

Firefighters were called to the scene at 6:53 p.m. and found a garage ablaze between Norris and West 1st on I Street, owned by Ron and Missy Nelson, who were not home then.

Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy smoke on the main floor of the 1½ story garage. While navigating to the second level, smoke and heat intensified, although no visible flames were present. Firefighters ventilated the area, allowing heat to escape and smoke to dissipate. Subsequently, they identified several hot spots where the fire had burned, causing significant damage to both levels.

The State Fire Marshal Investigator was called in to assess the situation, determining the fire's origin near a wall on the main level, which then spread to the upper level. It is believed the fire smoldered unnoticed for some time before becoming apparent when vinyl siding around the garage door windows ignited. The fire was deemed accidental.

Fire crews, including assistance from the Red Willow Western Rural Fire Department, remained on-site for approximately 3½ hours. The response involved one ladder truck, one pumper, one ambulance, and one command vehicle, with 12 City of McCook Fire Department members and several from the Red Willow Western Rural Fire Department.