A mother and her daughter are in critical condition in separate hospitals, while the father and son of the family are recovering, after a house fire roared through their home on the west side of North Platte around midnight June 13.

Brooke Simpson is at St. Elizabeth’s Burn Center in Lincoln and her daughter Ariah is at Children’s Hospital in Omaha, suffering from burns.

Brooke was awake Tuesday and responding appropriately.

“Ariah is still fighting! Both girls are in critical condition, but they got this,” said Brooke’s friend Brittany Hansen. Hansen, a registered nurse, is posting updates on her facebook on behalf of the family.

Shawn Simpson is not hospitalized and is recovering from physical and emotional exhaustion. His son Vincent was released from the hospital Tuesday.

North Platte Fire Chief Dennis Thompson said the two-story house was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived at the home in the 1800 block of W. Second, but the flames were quickly knocked down. The fire was under control at 12:41 a.m.

Thompson said three members of the family were outside the house when the fire department arrived, and firefighters rescued one person inside. The victims were all initially taken to Great Plains Health.

The fire marshal has not yet disclosed the cause of the blaze.

Friends are primarily asking for prayers. Donations of household items are not needed at this time. The priority is for everyone to get well.

“Keep those prayers coming because they are working,” Hansen said Monday.

A bank account is likely to be established soon for those who would like to help financially. Meanwhile, financial donations can be made directly to Shawn Simpson through Venmo at this QR code.  

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