Duplex fire started in kitchen

Smoke billows from the front door at a duplex apartment at 1109 W. Third Sunday evening in McCook. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette)

McCOOK, Neb. -- Residents of duplex apartments at 1109 W. Third in McCook are not able to return to their homes following a kitchen fire Sunday evening in the south apartment.

McCook Fire Chief Marc Harpham said the fire was reported by the resident of the north apartment at 8:21 p.m., and that firefighters and trucks discovered smoke coming from the eaves and rear of the structure when they arrived at 8:23 p.m.

Harpham said a new resident was moving into the south apartment and was not home at the time of the fire. The north tenant smelled smoke, noticed the fire next door, evacuated her apartment and called 911.

Harpham said that firefighters found the fire in the kitchen area and quickly extinguished it, but not before it caused considerable heat damage to the kitchen and smoke damage throughout the apartment. The north apartment had minor smoke damage, he said.

Firefighters' investigation concluded that the fire started in the area of an electric stove and spread to a cupboard above the stove.

The Red Cross was contacted to provide assistance to both residents.

Harpham said initial damages to the structure and contents of both apartments are estimated at $55,000. The duplex is owned by Josie Dominguez of McCook and apartments are rented by Jessie Barenberg and Tia Weaver.

Sixteen firefighters responded, along with one ladder truck, two pumpers, one ambulance and one command vehicle.

Firefighters remained on the scene for approximately two hours.