Monday evening fire breaks out at vacant home

BY CHUCK VANDENBERG

PCC EDITOR

FORT MADISON - A late evening fire broke out in the 1500 block of Avenue O Monday evening just south of Hy-Vee.

The fire fully engulfed the home shortly after 9 p.m. when a witness called the fire department after seeing flames coming from the home.

An all-call was dispatched about about 9:30 p.m. Fort Madison Police and Lee County EMS were on the scene assisting.

The witness told police the same structure caught fire about five years ago and that someone had been seen at the structure at about noon on Monday.

Other witnesses at the scene said the building was vacant and was being used by the owner for storage. One neighbor said he tried to reach the owner of the house by phone, but couldn't make contact. Beacon listings show the owner as Mike Leggett and the address as 1515 Avenue O.

The cause of the fire is unknown.

Two Fort Madison firefighters prepare to engage the flames coming from the inside of the home at 2616 Avenue O. Photo by Chuck Vandenberg/PCC