Monday fire still under investigation

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BY CHUCK VANDENBERG

PCC EDITOR

FORT MADISON - A fire that broke out in an apartment on the corner of 8th Street and Avenue E is still under investigation, according to Fort Madison Fire Chief Joey Herron.

The fire broke out at about 1:40 p.m. just across the corner from Fort Madison City Hall. Three city fire trucks, including the ladder truck, were called to the scene where police had the corner cordoned off. No flames were visible from the building, but smoke billowed from all sides of the second-story apartment.

Herron said the fire is under investigation.

"We know the point of origin, but it could have been several reasons. It's under investigation now with the insurance company, but the point of origin was in the bedroom area, we're just not sure what caused it."

He said the upper apartment sustained heavy damage in the bedroom with heavy smoke and heat damage in other parts of the apartment. The first floor apartment sustained water damage from efforts to put out the blaze.

At one point, a resident ran up the back stairs and into the building as firefighters were inside continuing to work on the smoldering apartment. Herron said she ran in to see if her cat was still inside. Herron said no animals were lost in the fire and no one was injured.

Apartment owner Andrew Brockman watches as Fort Madison firefighters apply foam and water to the second floor apartment bedroom where a fire broke out Monday afternoon. Photo by Chuck Vandenberg/PCC

FM firefighters get control of the fire that broke out in the bedroom of the northernmost second story apartment at the corner of 8th Street and Avenue E. Photo by Chuck Vandenberg/PCC

An unidentified woman runs up the back stairs and into the smoking apartment looking for a cat that was eventually found unharmed. Photo by Chuck Vandenberg/PCC

 

apartment, fire, Fire Chief Joey Herron, fort madison, Pen City Current

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