Fireworks cause early morning Harrisburg house fire, authorities say

No one was injured in a northern Harrisburg house fire early Sunday morning caused by discharged fireworks, authorities say.

Authorities responded to a report of a structure fire around 2 a.m. near Laura Street and Augustana Avenue in Harrisburg, said Harold Timmerman, Lincoln County Emergency Management coordinator.

Homeowners evacuated the building with their 13-year-old son and dog, Timmerman said, and neighbors were also evacuated from their homes. The family is displaced due to the extent of the fire and will be assisted by Red Cross, Timmerman said.

The extent of the damage included a destroyed garage and heavily damaged living spaces, Timmerman said. A few personal items will be able to be salvaged from the house, he said.

Crews were on scene until about 6:45 a.m. Fireworks were the cause of the fire, Timmerman said.

The family told law enforcement that they'd doused discharged fireworks near the home with water, but Timmerman said that a preliminary investigation suggests that one of the fireworks ignited and went off near the building.

"As a reminder, please keep discharged fireworks away from the home and soaked in water," a post from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office reads on social media. "If possible, fill a bucket full of cold water to put the fireworks in and leave it near the edge of your driveway. Fireworks are extremely hot after being discharged."

Multiple agencies responded to the fire, including both Harrisburg and Tea Fire Departments.

Timmerman said Lincoln County emergency responders also responded to a barn fire southwest of Lennox around 10:30 p.m. Saturday at 46391 280th Street. The barn fire was caused by an ignited bottle rocket that caught the barn on fire. No one was injured in that fire either, he said.