Atkinson Man Loses Life In Accident

Ryan Keogh

An accident at a construction site has claimed the life of a 43 year old Atkinson man on Monday, May 16. 

Ryan Keogh, 43, of Atkinson was caught in an explosion east of Bassett that destroyed a new home under construction and tragically claimed his life.

According to Bassett Fire Chief Jim Stout, at 8:33 a.m. Monday, firefighters were dispatched to a report of an explosion and smoke coming from the site of a new house under construction approximately six miles east and two miles south of Bassett.

Stout said, when firefighters arrived on scene, the home had been blown to pieces and was on fire.

Firefighters extinguished the flames and initiated a search for survivors.

Stout said there was a victim found who had died at the scene. Keogh was working on the house when the explosion occurred. Stout said Keogh was believed to be the only person at the site at the time.

While Stout said the exact cause of the explosion and fire is under investigation by the Nebraska State Fire Marshal's office, construction on the new house, owned by Monte and Stacy Strelow, was nearly complete and the house was hooked up to propane. Stout said the Newport Volunteer Fire Department assisted the Bassett department at the scene. 

Keogh was a long time firefighter and EMT for the Atkinson Fire Department and served as chief of the department up until the last couple of years.

"Ryan was very professional in his job as fire chief and leader of the fire fighting community of Holt County. His leadership and devotion to his community will be greatly missed,"commented former O'Neill Fire Chief Terry Miles.

Services for Keogh are pending at the time of publication.

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