Beatrice Firefighters called to small flareup, outside Sunmart Grocery

BEATRICE – Firefighters were called to a flareup just outside an east Beatrice grocery store, Thursday afternoon. Some leaves and debris caught fire in an access ramp along the east side of the Sunmart Grocery Store.

Beatrice Fire Captain Corey Lieneman described what happened. "They had a bunch of leaves and stuff that blew in there, today. Something caught the leaves on fire. There was a cigarette butt down there so were guessing something like that started it. It's kind of a concern on days like today and you have a fear like that. It's kind of a good reminder, I guess, for other people to pay attention to what you're doing."

Police Officer Joe McCormick says smoke initially was visible from several blocks away to the north…as strong south winds of 25 to 35 miles-per-hour fanned the smoke in that direction.

 

Store personnel were already putting water on the flames when firefighters arrived. Department personnel were dispatched at 2:50 p.m. There was no damage to the interior of the store….and no injuries.

The Sunmart store at 19th and Court has been undergoing an interior renovation.