Entire family of 6 killed in Nebraska house fire
NEHAWKA, Neb. -- A relative tells KMTV that a family of six was killed in a house fire in Nehawka early Thursday morning, CBS affiliate KMTV reports.
The family member confirmed the dead are Mike and Michelle Speer, along with their four daughters Ellie, Addilyn, Emma, and Anniston.
The brother of fire victim Mike Speer, Jared Speer, issued a statement to KMTV, saying his brother was “a good man, a hard worker that loved his family and would do anything he could for them.”
“The whole family was just big lump of love and good memories. There is a huge hole left now in our hearts that will never be filled.
Autopsies have been ordered, the Associated Press reported.
Earlier on Thursday, Cass County officials confirmed multiple deaths in a house fire.
At 12:07 am, Weeping Water Fire Department was dispatched to the 10000 block of McKelvie Road.
Officials said they had reports of people inside the house.
The fire was first reported by a neighbor to 911.
Fire departments from Weeping Water, Manley, Avoca, Cass County Sheriff’s Office and Cass County EMS responded and arrived on scene to find the two story house was fully involved in fire.
But they were not able to go inside the home to fight the fire.
The community has rallied to support the fire crews as they investigate what caused the fire that resulted in the deaths of the Speer family.
One resident told KMTV that they can’t figure out why things happen like they do.
As fire crews remained on scene working 12-hour plus shifts, local businesses from Murray and Weeping Water made sure firefighters were fed.
While many residents didn’t know the Speer family, they say the tragedy still hurts.
Residents told KMTV that the Speer family recently moved into the house and that the kids were excited about having pet chickens and much more space to play in.