Man identified in Bartlett fire fatality

Bartlett Volunteer Fire Department was called to a structure fire, Dec. 9, at 8:46 p.m., at 220 North 3rd Street, in Bartlett.

According to Wheeler County Attorney Joe McNally, upon arrival, firefighters found the residence to be fully involved and mutual aid was requested from both the Chambers and Ericson fire departments.

Once extinguished, fire department personnel located one male occupant deceased within the residence. The cause was determined to be accidental as a result of the woodstove catching nearby combustibles on fire. An autopsy was ordered and the results are pending at this time.

The deceased party has been identified as Kenneth Lidgett, 81, of Bartlett.

The fire was investigated by the Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Wheeler County Sheriff’s office and the Wheeler County Attorney’s office, with assistance from the above-noted fire departments and Bartlett ambulance personnel.