Beatrice firefighters were called to the scene of a house fire Christmas morning. Fire Captain Jeremy Seggerman says the fire department was called out at 5:41 A-M Christmas morning to 804 North 11th street for a porch fire.

“When they got there they found a two story home with fire on the back side of the house. The one occupant of the home had already made it outside.”

Captain Seggerman says the fire spread from the porch area to the inside of the upstairs of the house….

 “They had fire burning on the outside of the house that they were able to get under control. And then moved into the inside of the house. The fire was eventually brought under control in the attic area.”

An investigator with the state fire marshals office was called to the scene and determined the cause of the fire to be from a charcoal smoker located on the porch…

 “A Nebraska State Fire Marshals office investigator was called to the scene and determined the fire was caused by a charcoal smoker that was used in the afternoon on the 24th”

Seggerman says the occupant of the house was not injured.

Fire officials determined the house to be a total loss. Fire fighters were on the scene until approximately 11 a-m.