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'We lost everything': Lincoln family picks up pieces after fire destroyed home

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A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.

Alert Top Story

'We lost everything': Lincoln family picks up pieces after fire destroyed home

• Alyssa Johnson | Lincoln Journal Star
• Feb 23, 2025
• Feb 23, 2025
• 0

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The Downs family — Sawyer (from left), Mason, Alivia, mother Terra, Hailey and father Gary stand outside of their home Feb. 20 near 25th and L streets. 

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo

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Lincoln Fire and Rescue crews were battling a fire that engulfed three houses near 25th and L streets Tuesday morning.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

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Lincoln Fire and Rescue firefighters douse the Downs' home near 25th and L streets on Tuesday after a fire that started in a neighboring home spread to the house.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

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Icy stalactites hang from the ceiling as Sawyer Downs looks for his family's personal effects inside their home near 25th and L streets that burned down on Tuesday.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

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Mason Downs (from left) helps his mom, Terra, and sister Hailey to organize their belongings from inside their home near 25th and L streets on Thursday.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

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The fire-damaged dining room at the Downs home is coated in ice Thursday.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

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Photos & video: Fire in central Lincoln destroys 2 homes, damages third

Lincoln Fire and Rescue personnel battle a fire that damaged three homes near South 25th and L streets on Tuesday.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Fire and Rescue personnel battle a fire near South 25th and L streets Tuesday morning that destroyed one house and damaged two others.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Fire and Rescue personnel respond to a fire near South 25th and L streets on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Fire and Rescue personnel battle flames as they respond to a three house fire near South 25th and L streets on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Fire and Rescue personnel respond to the scene of a three house fire near South 25th and L streets on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Fire and Rescue personnel walk out of a nearby house that was on fire as they respond to a three house fire near South 25th and L streets on in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Water freezes on the helmets and suits of Lincoln Fire and Rescue personnel as they respond to a three house fire near South 25th and L streets on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

the foundation of one house is exposed as Lincoln Fire and Rescue personnel respond to a three house fire near South 25th and L streets on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Fire and Rescue personnel battle to a three house fire near South 25th and L streets on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Fire and Rescue personnel respond to a three house fire near South 25th and L streets on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

water freezes as it drips from a hose attached to a fire engine as Lincoln Fire and Rescue personnel respond to a three house fire near South 25th and L streets on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

A Lincoln firefighter covered in ice works the scene as LFR responds to a three house fire near South 25th and L streets on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

A Lincoln firefighter covered in ice works the scene as LFR responds to a three house fire near South 25th and L streets on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Fire and Rescue personnel battle to contain a three house fire near South 25th and L streets on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

A Lincoln firefighter instructs their team to move position on the ladder as LFR responds to a three house fire near South 25th and L streets on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Fire and Rescue firefighters douse the Downs' home near 25th and L streets on Tuesday after a fire that started in a neighboring home spread to the house.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Fire and Rescue personnel respond to a three house fire near South 25th and L streets on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

A Lincoln firefighter has their oxygen tank replaced as LFR responds to a three house fire near South 25th and L streets on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Smoke from a fire is visible from blocks away from the scene as Lincoln Fire and Rescue personnel respond to a three house fire near South 25th and L streets on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Smoke from a four alarm fire is visible from blocks away from the scene as Lincoln Fire and Rescue personnel respond to a three house fire near South 25th and L streets on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star

The aftermath of a house fire that left two homes uninhabitable near South 25th and L street on Wednesday.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

The aftermath of a house fire that left two homes uninhabitable near South 25th and L streets on Wednesday.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

The aftermath of a house fire that left two homes uninhabitable near South 25th and L street on Wednesday.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

The aftermath of a house fire that left two homes uninhabitable near South 25th and L streets on Wednesday.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

The Downs family — Sawyer (from left), Mason, Alivia, mother Terra, Hailey and father Gary stand outside of their home Feb. 20 near 25th and L streets. 

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo

Icy stalactites hang from the ceiling as Sawyer Downs looks for his family's personal effects inside their home near 25th and L streets that burned down on Tuesday.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

As icy stalactites hang from the ceiling, Sawyer Downs, 25, and his neighbor Macoy Fergus look for personal effects inside of the Downs home near 25th and L street, which was destroyed in Tuesday's fire, on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star

As icy stalactites hang from the ceiling, the Downs neighbor, Macoy Fergus, looks for the family's look for personal effects inside inside of the Downs home near 25th and L street, which was destroyed in Tuesday's fire, on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star

As icy stalactites hang from the ceiling, Sawyer Downs, 25, and his neighbor Macoy Fergus look for personal effects inside of the Downs home near 25th and L street, which was destroyed in Tuesday's fire, on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star

The Downs neighbor, Macoy Fergus hands out undamaged personal effects through the living room window to Hailey Downs,15, as they work to recover their belongings from their home near 25th and L street, which was destroyed in Tuesday's fire, on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star

The inside dining room of the Downs home near 25th and L street, which was destroyed in Tuesday's fire, on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star

Books and furniture is frozen solid inside of the Downs home near 25th and L street, which was destroyed in Tuesday's fire, on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star

Coats, school bags, and other personal effects are seen just inside the entryway of the Downs home near 25th and L street, which was destroyed in Tuesday's fire, on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star

Icy stalactites hang from the ceiling of the living room inside of the Downs home near 25th and L street, which was destroyed in Tuesday's fire, on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star

Mason Downs (from left) helps his mom, Terra, and sister Hailey to organize their belongings from inside their home near 25th and L streets on Thursday.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

The main bedroom, which was closest to where the fire started, is left with a collapsed roof inside of the Downs home near 25th and L street, which was destroyed in Tuesday's fire, on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star

The fire-damaged dining room at the Downs home is coated in ice Thursday.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Mason Downs, 10, looks through the back doorway into the interior of his family home near 25th and L street, which was destroyed in Tuesday's fire, on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Lincoln.

KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star

Sawyer Downs, 25, looks for his family's personal effects inside of his parents bedroom near 25th and L street, which was destroyed in Tuesday's fire, on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Lincoln

KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star

Alivia Downs, 14, (left) helps her mom Terra organize personal items outside of their home near 25th and L streets on Feb. 20. The home was destroyed in a fire two days prior. Now, the Downs family says items stored in a detached garage were stolen.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo

Reach the writer at 402-473-7241 or ajohnson2@journalstar.com. On Twitter @ajohnson6170

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The Downs family — Sawyer (from left), Mason, Alivia, mother Terra, Hailey and father Gary stand outside of their home Feb. 20 near 25th and L streets. 

• KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo

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Icy stalactites hang from the ceiling as Sawyer Downs looks for his family's personal effects inside their home near 25th and L streets that burned down on Tuesday.

• KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

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Mason Downs (from left) helps his mom, Terra, and sister Hailey to organize their belongings from inside their home near 25th and L streets on Thursday.

• KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

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The fire-damaged dining room at the Downs home is coated in ice Thursday.

• KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

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Lincoln Fire and Rescue firefighters douse the Downs' home near 25th and L streets on Tuesday after a fire that started in a neighboring home spread to the house.

• KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

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