Chief estimates $25,000 in damage in Saturday fire

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

McCook Fire Chief Marc Harpham estimates $15,000 in damages to the structure and $10,000 to the contents of the house that burned Saturday at 1203 West 13th in McCook.

Harpham said his department's investigation revealed that the fire started when a spark from a battery charger ignited fuel from the 1987 Chrysler New Yorker that was being repaired in the attached garage. The house is owned by Billy Shafer of McCook and is occupied by his daughter, Joan Stemper, Art Stemper and Art's son.

Harpham said the 911 fire call came in at 3:04 p.m., and equipment and firefighters on the scene two minutes later reported heavy smoke and fire coming from the garage.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire in the garage, Harpham said, and then discovered that the fire had spread into the attic. That fire was under control within 5 minutes, Harpham said.

Firefighters spent approximately 3 1/2 hours on the scene extinguishing hot spots in the attic and ventilating the structure.

Fourteen firefighters, two pumpers, one ladder truck, one ambulance and one rescue unit responded to the fire.

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