Fire cause ruled ‘undetermined’ by Nebraska State Fire Marshal
Johnson Lake — Multiple fire departments responded to a residential fire southwest of Lexington at Johnson Lake that was paged at 1:20 a.m. Saturday, 8-10-24.
Elwood Fire & Rescue Department was first on scene along with Johnson Lake EMS. The initial fire occurred in Elwood’s fire district. An automatic page called Lexington, Cozad, Elwood & Eustis. Lexington Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Bo Berry says the initial call was to 35 Mallard Beach…
Berry says, “Upon Lexington’s arrival, the initial house was fully involved and there was extension to the neighboring house to the south…and (we decided to) focus on the house to the north…to prevent extension to that home.”
Courtesy Photo/35 Mallard Beach, Johnson Lake, 8-10-24
Berry says the two residences that sustained fire damage, 35 & 36 Mallard Beach, are total losses. Both were occupied at the time, but he doesn’t believe the residence to the north was occupied. Berry says Lexington Firefighters left the scene before the investigation was completed, which was handled by Elwood Fire Chief Dustin Clouse in cooperation with the Nebraska State Fire Marshal.
Courtesy Photo/35 & 36 Mallard Beach, Johnson Lake, 8-10-24
Chief Clouse says the Fire Marshal ruled the source of the fire “undetermined…it was burned too bad to tell where it started.”
Chief Clouse issued a special thanks to Lexington, Cozad & Eustis fire departments for responding with mutual aid. Chief Clouse says there were no injuries to firefighters, but there were some minor injuries to the occupants of the residences.
Courtesy Photo/35 Mallard Beach, Johnson Lake, 8-10-24
Chief Clouse says Elwood Fire & Rescue’s forces responded at approximately 1:15 a.m. and were at the scene nearly 12 hours.
“It was a long day,” says Clouse.
Courtesy Photo/36 Mallard Beach, Johnson Lake, 8-10-24
Lexington responded with 15 firefighters and 5 trucks. There wasn’t a total count available of the resources brought by the other departments. Dawson Public Power District, Gosper County Sheriff’s Department and Dawson County Emergency Management also assisted on the call.
