BEATRICE – DeWitt, Wilber, Clatonia and Plymouth fire units were sent to a house fire near DeWitt early today not far from Tri County Public Schools…..that prompted a shutdown of Nebraska Highway 103 near the scene.

The fire broke out at a Waldo Farms home, along the east side of the highway, sending multiple firefighters and units to the scene. Beatrice Fire and Rescue sent an ambulance unit at 6:36 this morning. Captain Corey Lienemann said two persons…described as an elderly couple… were transported from the scene to Beatrice Community Hospital, but the exact extent of injuries is not known.

Beatrice Rural Fire was requested for mutual aid at around seven a.m., according to Chief Matt Langley. "When we got there, the majority of the fire...active fire, was knocked out. Wilber, DeWitt and Plymouth were the main agencies. Clatonia was also on scene with tankers. Wilber had their aerial truck set up, and so they were spraying water from the top. The big need was for additional water with that aerial apparatus. Once we got there, we were requested to go in and help with the hotspots...mopping up on the inside."

The fire was next to the location of a feed mill that caught fire several years ago. Langley says trucks were using hydrants at Tri County Schools to refill with water. Beatrice Rural firefighters were on scene for about two hours.

The house was totaled in the fire. No word yet, on the cause of the fire.