UPDATE: Fire in Southeast Lincoln ruled arson, former resident arrested

UPDATE: In an investigation between the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, the Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Lincoln Bureau of Fire Prevention, the Nebraska State Fire Marshal determined the cause of the fire in all three buildings to be arson.

The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office arrested 30-year-old Christopher Svoboda, a resident who rented the damaged property, for three separate counts of 2nd degree arson and lodged him in the Lancaster County Adult Detention Facility.

Damage to the house, barn, and garage is estimated at more than $135,000.

A barn, garage, and house engulfed in flames south of 56th and Yankee Hill.

Southeast fire along with Hickman, Bennet, Southwest, and Lincoln Fire and Rescue all responded to the home just outside of city limits.

When firefighters arrived on scene ammunition stored inside the barn ignited causing several small explosions.

We spoke with a neighbor who described the scene.

“I was in my house and i live about four houses down. I was actually resting, about to go out with my friend. She came over and I heard a huge boom and I walked outside and I pretty much saw flames and it was astonishing.  It was awful. I was scared,” said Karsyn Shkolnick.

Dense tree line and the home’s distance from a fire hydrant caused several problems for firefighters.

I spoke with Southeast Fire and Rescue Department Assistant Chief Bo Day who said no one was inside the home when the blaze started.

Day also said his crews focused on saving the house and let the garage and barn burn themselves out.

The house suffered heat and smoke damage, but otherwise is livable.

Day said the two buildings are a total loss, estimating damage to be around $200,000.