(Le Mars) — Just as the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department was about to begin their annual banquet and awards program being held Saturday evening at the Willow Creek Golf Course Club, the sound of beeping occurred on nearly 30 different pagers. The Plymouth County Communications reported a house was on fire near 8th Street southwest. Immediately, 30 people raced out the door. Fire Chief Dave Schipper
jumped in his command vehicle while wearing a dress shirt, tie, and blazer. Six members of the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department boarded the fire truck parked outside the Willow Creek Country Club and headed towards the house fire.
Meanwhile, the rest of the members of the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department went to the fire station to gather their gear and bring the remaining trucks to the scene. The fire was reported at about 6:45 p.m. at 735 3rd Avenue Southwest. The alarm was called in by a neighbor who spotted smoke coming from the structure. Upon arrival, firefighters noticed smoke coming from the garage area and through the roof. Firefighters made an aggressive attack on the burning structure, and were able to keep the fire contained mostly to the attached garage area and the attic above the garage. The rest of the home may
have sustained some smoke damage, but basically was not damaged by the blaze.
The fire remains under investigation, but Fire Chief Dave Schipper says preliminary indications show the fire was accidental, and the origin is being blamed on a battery charger that was operating and sitting on cardboard. Schipper says
the the battery charger ignited the cardboard. There were no injuries as a result of the fire. A Lexus automobile was parked inside the garage at the time of the fire and did sustain some damage. Firefighters were able to have
the fire under control and were on the scene for a total of 45 minutes. Once the fire was under control, firefighters took a few minutes to clean the trucks and their gear and returned to the Willow Creek Country Golf Club to resume their banquet.
Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper and Lt. Kevin Bolten continue their investigation following Saturday’s garage fire. Schipper tells the homeowner the path of the fire inside the garage fire.
Fire Chief Dave Schipper examines a piece of cardboard that was the start of Saturday’s garage fire.
