SCOTTSBLUFF — The cause of Thursday night’s fatal fire in Scottsbluff has been attributed to improper disposal of ashes from a fireplace, Nebraska Deputy State Fire Marshal Mike Turner said.
Salome Blanco Sr., 92, died inside the home, of smoke inhalation. Blanco’s wife, Ramona, was able to escape the blaze, which started about 8:30 p.m. The Scottsbluff Fire Department, Scotts Bluff Rural Fire Department and Gering Fire Department responded to the fire.
Turner said evidence indicates that ashes from the fireplace had been disposed of on a back porch. He said that a resident of the home said that the area where the fire started had been the area where ashes were placed and “the pattern seems to indicate that the fire started on the back porch.”
The Blanco residence was destroyed, Turner said. He said at least one of the neighboring houses sustained damage.
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