Fire guts house in Lee, causing $40,000 damage Crew drills into lake ice to get water

LEE – Lee firefighters are investigating a fire that gutted the inside of a home on Silver Lake late Sunday night. No injuries were reported.

Fire Chief Jay Crocker said the cause of the fire has not been determined, but it did not appear to be suspicious.

Crocker said it appeared the fire started in a propane fireplace, which could have overheated or malfunctioned.

The fire chief estimated damage to be $40,000 to the home located about one mile off the Arab Road at the end of a private road on Silver Lake. He said owner Ken Currier has insurance.

Crocker said the fire was discovered about 9:15 p.m. Sunday by Currier.

“He came home to find his house burning inside,” said Crocker. “He opened the door and it flashed. He could not get into the house so he closed the door and went to a neighbor’s to call for help,” said the fire chief.

Crocker said flames were coming out the front door when firefighters arrived. He said firefighters knocked the flames down using a special foam to smother the fire. Firefighters drilled holes in the ice-covered lake and set up portable pumps to provide a water supply.

Within an hour the fire was under control.

“The house is still standing,” said Crocker said Monday. The chief said the inside of the home, which recently was renovated, was gutted.

Lincoln firefighters stood by at the Lee station while 26 Lee volunteer firefighters worked to extinguish the fire. By using the Lincoln department’s thermal imaging camera, firefighters were able to detect hot spots and put them out. Firefighters left the fire scene about 1:30 a.m. Monday.