Beatrice man in hospital after apartment fire

Posted By: Rachael Miner

rminer@klkntv.com

This apartment building in Beatrice is unlivable after a fire broke out in one of the basement units.

It happened Tuesday morning just after 10 near 7th and Lincoln Streets.

"The on duty captain did a 360 and noticed there was flames and smoke whisking out of the basement windows on the north side of the apartment building," said Beatrice Fire Chief Brian Daake.

Chief Daake said no one was inside the basement unit where the fire started when they arrived, but two men were inside the building.

While fire crews worked to extinguish the flames one of the men in the building got hurt trying to escape.

"There was as gentleman at the top of the stairs who was trying to exit the building and he fell. We helped get him up, we transported him to Beatrice community hospital then to St. Elizabeth’s for routine monitoring," Chief Daake said. 

Fire crews were able to contain the fire to just the basement, but the rest of the building has heavy smoke damage, forcing residents to find other places to live.

I spoke with Beatrice Police Lt. Jay Murphy who said Alesha Acevedo has been arrested for starting the fire.

He says a witness reported seeing Acevedo coming out of the building with singed eyebrows and eyelashes and was holding a lighter.

Lt.. Murphy said Acevedo told them quote, "if i can’t live here no one else can."

She’s currently in being held at Gage County Jail waiting to be charged with arson. 

Damage to the apartment complex is estimated to be around $20,000.

The identity of the man who was transported to Saint. Elizabeth’s has not yet been released.

Beatrice Police told me the man had burns and suffered from smoke inhalation.