Fire under investigation

Friday, June 5, 2009

A deputy Nebraska state fire marshal investigator is assisting the McCook Fire Department investigate what McCook's fire chief is calling "suspicious circumstances" surrounding a fire that burned a house at 910 E. Fifth in McCook Thursday afternoon.

According to a press release from McCook Fire Chief Marc Harpham, the fire was discovered at 5 p.m. by McCook Police Department officers responding to a "check welfare" call. Firefighters arrived three minutes later and reported smoke coming from the residence.

A fire in a basement bedroom was quickly extinguished, Harpham said.

Harpham wrote in an 8 a.m. press release today that one person was transported to Community Hospital of McCook, treated for minor injuries and released.

Harpham's release indicates that "due to the suspicious circumstances surrounding the fire," the deputy state fire marshal's investigator was called in to help the fire department, police department and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services in the investigation of the cause of the fire.

Harpham said this morning that the location of the fire and information from witnesses that conflicted with the fire department's very early investigation created questions about the cause of the fire.

Harpham said this morning that the fire is still under investigation.

The fire was contained in the bedroom in the basement. The basement sustained moderate fire and smoke damage; the main floor had minor smoke damage.

Initial damage estimates are $3,000 to the property and $1,000 to its contents.

The house is owned by Greg and Janet Hepp of McCook, and rented by Karen West.

Harpham reported that 20 firefighters, two pumper trucks, one ladder truck, two ambulances and one command vehicle were on the fire scene. Personnel remained on the scene for about 61⁄2 hours performing the investigation.

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