The Superior Express -

Thursday at 8:56 a.m. the Nuckolls County Sheriff's office received two 911 calls reports for a house fire at 3119 Highway 4, just a few miles east of Lawrence. Lawrence Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched at 8:59 a.m. At approximately 9:10 a.m., Nelson Fire was called out to assist and bring water. Thirteen volunteers from Lawrence and six from Nelson answered the call.

Jerry Karmazin's home caught fire last Thursday morning after he had left for work. The fire is believed to have started in the chimney area. Jerry use a wood fireplace to heat the home.

Lawrence had the ambulance on the scene, along with every vehicle at their disposal. Nelson brought their water wagon, pumper and equipment vehicle. It took about two and a half hours to extinguish the blaze. The fire marshall said the cause of the fire was "undetermined" but said it appeared to start in the chimney area, which was confirmed by the firemen first on the scene. The home was a complete loss, but the other buildings and property on the farm were spared.

The home belonged to Jerry Karmazin. The farm was purchased by the Karmazin family in the 1980s from Joe Bolte. Jerry commutes daily to Hastings for work and had left before the fire started. Jerry had lived in another property in Lawrence until about five years ago when he moved to the farm. He had lived there ever since.

Jerry had been using a wood heater to keep the house warm. Property lost included clothing, recent financial records, military uniforms, and awards, as well as machinery parts he had been storing in the house.

Jerry is living back in Lawrence at the property he moved out of when he moved to the farm.