NEBRASKA CITY – Nebraska City firefighters saved a house from destruction Saturday after gasoline from a lawn mower provided fumes for a flash fire.

 

The home of Josh and Pamela Epp sustained an estimated $80,000 in smoke and fire damage from the blaze that erupted in a basement utility room.

 

 

Firefighters say a lawn mower had been taken to the room for repairs and gasoline leaked out in the room.

 

When a natural gas hot water heater turned on, the fumes ignited.

 

Nebraska City firefighters used interior attack crews on three entrances on two floors to extinguish the fire, which had expanded to spaces between walls and burned floor joists.

 

 

 

The original portion of the house had been moved from north of the former Norman’s IGA store on Fifth Avenue. It has had four major additions.

 

The Dunbar Rural Fire Department provided mutual aid.

Firefighters were on the scene from 6:41 until 11:50 p.m.

Seven units and 22 firefighters responded.

 

The state Fire Marshal's Office was called to investigate

 

 

 

 

 

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