Middle school annex suffers extensive damage in Coleridge

COLERIDGE, Neb. -- Laurel-Concord-Coleridge school administrators are surveying the damage after a Tuesday night fire in Coleridge.

LCC superintendent Jeremy Christiansen said a night custodian first heard fire alarms at approximately 7:20 p.m., eventually locating the blaze in the middle school annex. The custodian then alerts LCC officials of the fire before calling for firefighters.

Coleridge Fire and Rescue arrived on the scene shortly after 7:30, with units from Laurel and Hartington called shortly afterward, Coleridge Fire Chief Jeff Hansen said.

Christiansen said school administrators had been wrapping up a home track meet in Laurel when they were alerted to the fire, heading to the scene shortly afterward.

Hansen said the fire was out by 8:05 p.m., with overhaul beginning afterward. Firefighters, school administrators and the Nebraska State Fire Marshal's Office remained on scene until approximately 11:45 p.m., Christiansen said.

The building was being used for storage, though the building has been used for classrooms and other purposes in the past. There was significant damage to the building. The adjacent main building suffered minor heat damage.

An investigator from the Nebraska State Fire Marshal's Office determined the fire was caused by electrical wiring in the attic.

There were no injuries reported.

Christiansen said impact to school operations should be limited. Though custodial operations in Coleridge are based out of the affected building, most of the main custodial supplies are stored in Laurel.

LCC officials will be meeting with an insurance adjustor to discuss the extent of the damage on Wednesday, Christiansen said.

Coleridge Fire and Rescue credited  Hartington and Laurel Fire Departments for their assistance, in addition to the Cedar County Sheriff's Office, Cedar County Dispatch, Cedar County Emergency Management, the Nebraska State Fire Marshal's Office, the Nebraska State Patrol, LCC administrators and custodial staff, Cedar-Knox Public Power District, Black Hills Energy and retired firefighters.