The first day of 2024 was a busy one for Lincoln Fire and rescue crews as they responded to pair of fires. LFR Public Information Officer MJ Lierman says a detached garage on a vacant property near 10th and Furnas Avenue was engulfed in flames when crews arrived around 12:20 a.m.
She tells KLIN News it wasn’t the first time they responded to that property. “They’ve had some similar small fires that they attributed to some transients living in the area.” She says the garage is a total loss with damage estimated at $50,000.
Firefighters also responded to a home at 3100 NW 6th Street around 2:30 p.m. “There was a fire in the bedroom that caught the mattress on fire,” Lierman says. “It was caused by an unprotected flame too close to an oxygen supply.”
Crews were able to put it out quickly, but Lierman says it could have had tragic consequences. “If you have at home oxygen tanks, make sure you have candles and other unprotected flames away from any oxygen sources.”
Damage is estimated at $3,000 and the Red Cross was called to help relocate the two residents.