WATCH: Fire rekindles at abandoned factory in Beatrice
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – An abandoned factory in Beatrice caught fire again Monday.
Early in the afternoon, thick black smoke was seen rising from the Dempsters complex near Highway 77 and Perkins Street on Channel 8’s Schoen’s Roofing camera.
Channel 8 reporters saw firefighters spraying water on the fire from a ladder truck.
Dozens gathered near the site of the fire throughout the afternoon Monday, including locals like Michael Griggs, who stopped by on his way home from work because “curiosity kills the cat.”
“My lord,” Griggs said. “Pretty sad.”
Beatrice Fire & Rescue said crews have been working to demolish part of the complex, and that may be what reignited the fire.
Around 10 p.m. Friday, the old factory caught fire after a semitrailer in one of the buildings went up in flames, which spread to the second floor.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating Friday’s blaze, which is being investigated as incendiary.
Officials said that indicates the fire was started deliberately, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
SEE ALSO: Highway 77 in Beatrice closed after massive fire at EPA Superfund site
In 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency successfully removed thousands of gallons of old diesel fuel and other hazardous materials from the site, according to the City of Beatrice.
The city said the EPA will continue to be a key partner in addressing any remaining environmental concerns as the city moves forward with demolition and cleanup.
Mayor Robert Morgan praised the response of the fire department and said residents shouldn’t be worried about sickness from the smoke.
“We’ve talked to the EPA. NDEE (The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy) was just down. They believe we’re handling the situation very well,” Morgan said Monday. “And at this point in time, we don’t see any type of health risks.”
The City of Beatrice posted this update on Facebook on Monday, just minutes before the second blaze erupted:
The State Fire Marshal’s office is continuing its investigation into the fire that broke out at the Dempsters property on Friday, March 21, 2025. The fire, which initially began in a semi-trailer located at the back of the property, is being investigated as incendiary. This classification indicates that the fire was deliberately started, whether intentionally or unintentionally. The Fire Marshal has confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, and further details will be provided as they become available.
While fire department personnel initially contained the blaze, it quickly spread to the middle of the compound before being extinguished in the early hours of Saturday, March 22, 2025. A partial demolition of the building was then conducted to remove a section of the structure near Highway 77/6th Street. This area was deemed a safety concern due to the risk of collapse onto the street. Another section at the back of the property remains unstable and is expected to be demolished today, March 24, 2025.As a result of the ongoing demolition efforts, Highway 77/6th Street remains closed. The street will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so, though the exact timeline for reopening remains uncertain.The City would like to clarify that it does not own the entirety of the Dempsters property. As such, the City is currently limited to addressing immediate public safety concerns. The City is actively working to acquire the entire property through the foreclosure process, with the long-term goal of demolishing the existing dilapidated structures and safely disposing of any hazardous materials that may remain.In 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) successfully removed thousands of gallons of old diesel fuel and other hazardous materials from the site. The EPA will continue to be a key partner in addressing any remaining environmental concerns as the City moves forward with the demolition and cleanup process. Any debris from the current demolition will remain on-site while the City continues to collaborate with both the EPA and the Nebraska Department of Environmental and Energy (NDEE) on the proper disposal of these materials.The City of Beatrice would like to extend our thanks to all personnel involved in the response efforts, including Beatrice Fire & Rescue, the Beatrice Police Department, and the City’s Electric, Street, Engineering, Water, and Community Development Departments. We also express our gratitude for the mutual aid provided by the Nebraska State Patrol, Gage County Sheriff’s Department, Gage County Emergency Management, Jefferson County Rural Fire, and the Beatrice Rural Fire Department.
The City remains committed to resolving this situation as quickly and safely as possible, and we will continue to keep the public informed of any new developments.
