Fire destroys Grand Island restaurateur’s home

The home of Tommy Edwards, the owner of Tommy’s Family Restaurant, was destroyed in a fire Monday morning in southeast Grand Island. Firefighters were called to the fire at 520 Midaro Drive at 6:07 a.m

The lake house was a total loss.

In addition to the Grand Island Fire Department, the Grand Island Rural, Alda, and Doniphan Departments also responded.

Fighting the fire was difficult due to flames in the attic.

“It was running toward us. Once it got into the attic, we couldn’t overtake it,” said Tim Hiemer, head of the Grand Island Division.

The fire service was also hampered by a lack of fire hydrants in the subdivision.

The other departments supplied water from two fire hydrants on South Locust Street, Hiemer said.

The cause of the fire was still under investigation late Monday. More information should be available Tuesday afternoon, Hiemer said.

The fire was extinguished within two hours, but firefighters stayed on site for most of the day.

They had to keep pumping water because so much had fallen into the basement, Hiemer said.

The cold weather created a lot of steam, making visibility difficult. The water also froze on the driveways, decks and fire engines.

Seventeen Grand Island firefighters — all on duty — responded to the fire. The other departments reported a similar number, Hiemer said.