Three Lincoln firefighters were hurt battling a wind-swept blaze Thursday and two homes were destroyed.
Officials said the fire was so hot and furious it was almost impossible for firefighters to fight just after it sparked at about 6 p.m. Wind speeds were at about 35 mph.
Neighbors in northeast Lincoln saw the backside of the house on Garland Street burning up. Winds spread the flames to homes on both sides of the house.
One firefighter suffered burns to his neck. Another one had severe burns to his arms and legs and the third was burned when the water supply he was using to fight the fire got extremely hot.
Firefighters had to stop fighting the fire inside the house at one point to protect the other homes on the street.
Brandon Stanley said he was afraid the fire would spread to his home.
"The flames were about 10-15 feet above the roofline, and the wind blew it and started the next house on fire. Smoke was coming out of the other side and my house was next, so I was worried it was going to come to my home. I checked to see if my neighbors' kids got out, then I got my dog," Stanley said.
The fire did about $500,000 damage to the home where it started and one beside it that also caught fire.
Investigators are still trying to figure out what started the fire.
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