(LE MARS)–The cause of a fire at a residential care facility in Le Mars this (Wednesday) morning is listed by investigators as arson.
Le Mars Police, Le Mars Fire-Rescue and the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s office investigated the fire reported at 1240 Lincoln Street Northeast at 2:30 this morning.
Plymouth County owns the building which is leased to the Pride Group for services to mentally disabled adults
According to written information from Le Mars Police, a resident, 20-year-old Zachary Dean Henry, has been charged with arson in the first degree and is accused of intentionally setting the fire in the south end of the building. Henry was taken to the Plymouth County Jail.
Damage is currently estimated at 20-thousand dollars.
Fire-Rescue Chief David Schipper reports the south hallway of the building sustained heavy smoke and fire damage. The rest of the building was ventilated for smoke and residents were allowed back into the building. Damage is currently estimated at 20-thousand dollars.
At the time of the fire, there were 49 residents and two staff members in the two-story building.
Assisting the Fire-Rescue Department at the fire scene were Le Mars Police, the Plymouth County Sheriff’s office, Iowa State Fire Marshal’s office, Le Mars Ambulance and Pride Group staff as well as Merrill and Oyens Fire Departments. .
