CIGARETTE SPARKED TWO-ALARM FIRE A NORTHEAST LINCOLN, NEBRASKA HOME.  THE FIRE LOSS EXCEEDS $100,000.

A smoldering cigarette sparked a two-alarm fire that gutted the back half of a northeast Lincoln home and sent heavy black and gray smoke pouring into the neighborhood Monday morning.

Lincoln Fire and Rescue firefighters could see heavy smoke well before they arrived at 2833 N. 57th St. about 10 a.m., Battalion Chief Derald Murrell said.

Flames consumed a covered deck on the back side of the house and spread into the roof, Murrell said. 

Crews had the fire under control by about 10:30 a.m.

The fire caused about $70,000 in damage to the home, which is valued at $71,400, Lincoln Fire Investigator Rick Campos said. It also caused about $30,000 in damage to the contents.

Peat moss and other materials, along with the wooden deck, provided fuel for the fire, Campos said.

"It was a perfect storm," he said.

Joe Benes, who lives across the street, called 911 after he realized the smoke rising from the back of his neighbor's house wasn't coming from a meat smoker.

Then he knocked on the door and woke up a woman who was inside and unaware that her house was on fire, Benes said.

"Within minutes, the whole back end was on fire," he said.

The owners told fire officials they are confident they'll be able to find a place to stay.