‘A real, real tragic loss’: Neighbors grieve after man dies in central Lincoln house fire

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A man died early Tuesday morning after a fire at a central Lincoln home.

About 1:30 a.m., the Lincoln Police Department responded to a welfare check at a house near 39th and J streets.

A neighbor saw that the windows were fogged over and that water was pouring from the sump pump drain outside the house.

Officers called Lincoln Fire & Rescue when they smelled smoke.

Firefighters found the basement engulfed in smoke, but the fire had already gone out by the time they arrived.

They found a 78-year-old man dead inside a basement bedroom.

The fire caused about $100,000 in damage

One of the 78-year-old’s neighbors, who wants to go only by Eric, said the man was incredibly kind.

“I’ve known Jim for about 10 years,” Eric said. “He became a mentor to me. He’s a pillar in the community.”

Eric said Jim was always there for him, through thick and thin.

And he was very involved in the Lincoln community.

“His immediate family will definitely feel his loss,” Eric said.

But he said Jim made the whole neighborhood his family.

“It’s a real, real tragic loss,” Eric said.

The loss is especially difficult amid the holidays.

“It is still a time for family and celebration,” Eric said. “But at the same time, we’re all going to be grieving, and it’s important to celebrate his life because he was a true hero.”

LFR and the fire inspector are investigating the cause of the fire; LPD is investigating the death.