Early morning fire demolishes three vacant houses

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BY CHUCK VANDENBERG

PCC EDITOR

FORT MADISON - An early Monday morning fire sent one person to the hospital and has resulted in the ad hoc demolition of three houses in the middle of Avenue M.

Fort Madison firefighters were called to the scene at about 3:40 a.m. Monday morning to a house fireat 1519 Avenue M that was fully engulfed. The fire spread to the two structures adjacent to the building and all three of the buildings were considered a total loss and were demolished Monday.

According to a release from the Fort Madison Fire Department, firefighters were on the scene in less than four minutes and found one house fully engulfed with fire spreading to the adjacent houses on each side.

The buildings were vacant and had no utilities hooked up, however, it was learned at the scene that squatters had been staying in the homes.

Firefighters were unable to gain entry to any of the structures due to the dilapidated conditions of the structures. The known squatters were accounted for with one person being transported to the hospital due to smoke inhalation and possible burns to the hands.

Firefighters remained at the scene until approximately 11:30 a.m. Monday and were assisted by all available off-duty personnel and the Denmark Fire Department.

Fort Madison police and Lee County EMS were at the scene to assist. No injuries were sustained by any firefighters.

The deed holder of the original house that caught fire is currently listed as deeded to Alexander Catlett with an assessed value of $8,170 including the lot. Tax information on the home was not available.

Kevin Chapman is listed as the deed holder at 1521 Avenue M, the property adjacent to the west. That property was valued at $8,160 and hadn't had taxes paid since 2014.

The property to the east at 1517 Avenue M is deeded to Lynn Rotter of West Point. The property was valued at $11,400 and taxes were current.

The value of the three buildings combined, according to Beacon Schneider, was $18,500.

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