(Le Mars) — Thick, black smoke could be seen from miles away as the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department responded to a machine shed that had caught on fire Friday afternoon. The fire was reported at about 1:30 p.m. at 24601 Otter Avenue, approximately eight miles southeast of Le Mars. Shortly after arrival on the scene, the Le Mars Fire Department called for assistance from the Oyens, Merrill, and Hinton Fire Departments. At one time, flames were seen shooting through the machine shed’s roof about 30 feet in the air. The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department had to use one of their aerial ladder trucks to get above the roof in order to extinguish the flames. Fire fighters attacked the building from two different sides. A nearby propane gas tank, along with another large fuel tank gave fire fighters additional reasons to be concerned. However, fire personnel were able to keep both tanks cool with water, and prevented any explosions from happening. Fire departments had to use their tankers to constantly shuttle water from Le Mars to the fire scene. The machine shed, a metal building with dimensions that are estimated at 80 feet long and 35 to 40 feet wide and 25 feet high is a total loss. The southern portion of the roof had collapsed due to the extreme heat. A farm home was in close proximity to the machine shed fire, but fortunately, fire fighters were able to contain the blaze to the shed. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time, as are the total damages. At last report, fire fighters were still on the scene.
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