Fire officials credit smoke detectors with alerting a Scottsbluff couple to a fire in their home on Saturday, allowing the couple to escape safely with their pets.
Scottsbluff Fire Chief Tom Shingle said firefighters arrived at a home in the 1000 block of 11th Avenue within three minutes of the 1:30 a.m. call, finding smoke and flames coming from the roof of the one-story home. It is said that he discovered that there was one.
Shingle said the fire started on the outside at the back of the building and spread through the soffit and into the attic, and although most of the fire was extinguished within about 30 minutes, the insulation was still smoldering. The fire was not declared completely extinguished until about three hours later. and difficult void space.
There were no injuries to residents or firefighters, although the area around the home was icy and posed additional danger. Of the 16 firefighters on the scene, several slipped and fell while manipulating hoses or carrying equipment, but no one was injured.
Shingle said the fire was unintentional, caused by a heating element that came into contact with combustible material, and property losses are estimated at about $70,000.
The Gering Fire responded with mutual aid, with additional assistance from the Scottsbluff Police Department, Area Western Paramedics Association, Nebraska Public Power, and Black Hills Energy.
The Department of Fire and Disaster was also on scene to attend to the immediate needs of the couple and their pets.
Shingle said the Scottsbluff Fire wants to remind everyone that activated fire alarms save lives.
