Fire in Orleans, Nebraska, Destroys 4 Buildings

A fire in downtown Orleans, Neb., has destroyed four buildings across from the public library.

Hastings television station KHAS-TV says the fire started early in the morning on Sept. 26 in an abandoned two-story building. Over the years, the building had housed a doughnut shop, a tavern and a hardware and wood store.

The fire spread to three other buildings that had been used for storage.

Orleans firefighter Matt Massey told KHAS that fire crews fought flames that shot 60 to 70 feet above the buildings and that it took 18 hours to put out the blaze.

The fire cause is still being investigated. No injuries were reported.

Orleans is a town of about 350 in south-central Nebraska.