Community rallies around Maxwell family who lost home in fire

Nikki Barker is taking donations tonight at the North Platte Centennial Park Baseball Concession stand. Barker says starting at 6 p.m. tonight, people can drive right up, and they will take their donations of clothing. They will also have a donation jar for money and gift cards.

Barker says she is looking for any donations, such as toiletries, food, and snacks.

Here are the specific sizes Barker is trying to match:

Corey: Size 5 shoes, boys med clothes.

Felicity: Size 10 toddler shoes, size 5/6 girls.

Size 8 shoes size small women's, and size large women's.

Lexie: size 13 or 1 shoes. Girls size 8 clothes

Ben: size 8 1/2 shoes Jeans. 31/36, large shirt

Barker says you can text 534 3879 for special pickups.

Barker also set up an account for Julie and Ben Miller at the Centris Credit Union in North Platte.

Hirschfeld Prom Shoppe is also collecting clothes for the Miller family.

On Facebook, Hirschfeld's writes, "An employee of ours has lost their family home today and they could use anything you have to give."

Hirschfeld's is looking for these clothing items:

Small 16 year old girl

Small 14 year old girl

Small 13 year old girl

Youth Medium 11 year old boy

Youth Small 7 year old girl

5T Girl

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ORIGINAL STORY: Wed., Aug. 23, 2017

Multiple fire units battled a fire at a farmhouse south of Maxwell. The family home caught on fire at a farm near McPherson National Cemetery, south of Maxwell around 1:30 p.m.

Eight of the family members were home and able to make it out with no injuries.

Employees of the farm said they noticed smoke, and tried to help but within minutes the smoke and heat was too intense.

The home is being considered a total loss. One other structure on the property was a total loss. The flames also surrounded a propane tank. However, a lot was saved thanks to the great response by fire crews.

"Everybody's at work. Response time is tough but luckily we had some people in town and they came out right away," says Jim Falcon, Maxwell Fire Chief.

Officials said the fire may have started in the basement of the house.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

First of God church in North Platte has donated a weeks worth of stay to the family of eight at the Hampton Inn.