Firefighter suffers minor injury, five displaced following central Lincoln duplex fire

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A firefighter was injured, and five people were displaced after a duplex fire in central Lincoln on Friday.

Bitter cold gripped Lincoln overnight, as firefighters battled the blaze just before 2 a.m. near 13th and Washington streets.

Lincoln Fire & Rescue arrived at a duplex with heavy fire showing from the second floor and called a second alarm.

“First units reported that there were already flames coming from the inside out from the second floor,” said LFR Chief Lloyd Mueller.

One person was evacuated from the first floor as crews fought to contain the flames.

The fire was under control in around 30 minutes, but a firefighter was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

LFR said it started as an accidental cooking fire; the damage is estimated at about $165,000.

Five people are displaced, and as families stood outside, a neighbor opened her heart and her doors.

“Luckily for the neighbors next door, they took a lot of the people in due to the cold and the extreme temperatures that we had, so we had a place for them to go,” Mueller said.

The neighbor did not want to go on camera, but did explain why she opened her doors.

“Why would I want to leave anyone outside by themselves at 2 a.m.? If that were my sister, my brother — better yet, my mom or dad — I would want someone to say, ‘Come in.’ We’re all God’s children and I’d want someone to do the same for me and my kids.”

Red Cross is helping the families find temporary housing and support.

Chief Mueller said the injured firefighter is expected to be okay.