Update (10/20/16 5:30 pm from Post Staff)

The Post has confirmed through family that the fire claimed the lives of a family of six.

Killed in the tragedy were Michelle Collins Speer, her husband Mike and their four daughters, Elli, Adilynn, Emma and Anniston.

Michelle is a 1998 graduate of North Platte High School.  The oldest child, Elli, 11, was also the daughter of 1997 NPHS graduate James Perez.

Our prayers are with the family.

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NEHAWKA, Neb. (AP) — Officials say a fire in rural southeastern Nebraska has left more than one person dead, but say they are unable to yet determine how many have been killed.

The Nebraska Fire Marshal’s Office says firefighters were called shortly after midnight Wednesday to a house near the village of Nehawka in Cass County by a neighbor. The neighbor reported a fire with people still inside the home.

The Fire Marshal’s Office says its investigators were still on the scene Thursday afternoon, noting there have been “multiple fire fatalities,” but can’t confirm a specific number. Investigators have ordered autopsies to identify remains as they are found.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office and County Attorney are helping with the investigation. Both of those departments referred questions Thursday to the Fire Marshal’s Office.

YORK, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a staff member was attacked by an inmate at the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women in York.

The Nebraska Correctional Services Department says the staffer deflected an attempted blow Wednesday from the prisoner, who was wielding a handmade weapon. The inmate then grabbed the staffer’s hair and made contact with the staffer’s face before other staff members could stop the assault.

The staff member was treated for minor injuries.

The department says the names of those involved won’t be released. Results of an investigation will be given to the York County attorney for a decision about prosecution.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska wants two Nebraska law enforcement agencies to suspend the use of facial recognition technology in their investigations until lawmakers and the public can weigh in on the practice.

A recent report from Georgetown University about the technology’s use includes the Lincoln Police Department and Nebraska State Patrol. The two agencies access the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles’ system for facial recognition.

The ACLU of Nebraska says more public vetting is needed to prevent misuse and abuse of the technology.

Lincoln public safety director Tom Casady says facial recognition technology is an efficient tool for identity theft investigations, and there are restrictions in place to allow its use by only a few investigators from each law enforcement agency.

The state patrol says it’s reviewing the university’s report.

CULBERTSON, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say four firefighters have been injured battling a field blaze in southwest Nebraska.

Red Willow Western Rural Fire Department firefighter Billie Cole said one of the four was treated at Community Hospital in McCook for burns on his face and arms. She says the other three suffered lesser burns and were not hospitalized.

The department had joined the Culbertson department in fighting the fire Monday. Officials say the wind kicked up and spread flames from a burning pile of rotten lumber at a farmstead demolition project northwest of Culbertson.

Culbertson Fire Chief Rich Sensel says the blaze blackened nearly 260 acres of corn stubble, conservation land and trees. Nearly 60 firefighters responded.