(Le Mars) — A trailer home located in Armel Acres on the west side of town was
destroyed by an overnight fire. Fire fighters responded to an alarm at about 1:48
a.m. at trailer number 3 on Oak Street. As fire fighters arrived on the scene, an
orange glow could be seen as the trailer home was fully engulfed.
Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper describes the scene.
The home and all the contents were a total loss. Schipper estimates the damage to
exceed $50,000. Two men were residing in the trailer home, and a third man was
visiting at the time of the fire. All three were able to escape the fire. The
American Red Cross was called to offer assistance since the residents were
displaced. The residents were taken to a nearby motel. Fire fighters used
defensive tactics to protect other trailer homes within the area from catching on
fire. No other trailer homes sustained any fire damage, but fire fighters did use
pressure fans to ventilate the smoke from two neighboring mobile homes. Schipper
says the cause of the fire may have been linked to fumes from a disposed cleaning
chemical.
The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department was on the scene for approximately four
hours. There were no injuries associated with the fire. Assisting the Le Mars
Fire and Rescue Department were the Le Mars Police, Le Mars Ambulance Services,
MidAmerican Energy, and the American Red Cross.
