(Le Mars) — For the second time within 24 hours, the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department had to battle a structural fire. Last evening, fire fighters were at the scene of a large building used by a local construction company to store supplies, tools, and equipment. Fire fighters were at the scene of 17379 Marble Avenue, the home of Larry Timmins, for five hours. The fire was first reported at about 6:20 p.m. The Oyens and Remsen Fire Departments offered assistance to the Le Mars Fire Department by hauling water to the scene of the fire, and the Orange
City Fire Department was called to Le Mars to serve as a back-up, if in case another emergency were to happen. When fire fighters arrived at the scene, the 80 foot long building was totally engulfed, with flames seen coming through the roof. Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper says the building and all the contents
inside were a total loss that he estimates could be nearly $500,000.
Schipper believes the fire may have been burning perhaps as much as an hour before the fire department was notified. The Timmons family are on vacation, and were not home during the blaze. It was neighbors and passer-byes on Highway 3 that reported the fire. Schipper says additional investigation will be needed to try to determine the cause of the fire.
Due to the extreme heat, and with the vehicles inside the structure, fire fighters had to deal with additional dangers.
The Le Mars Fire Chief says with the mobile home trailer fire that happened early Monday morning, along with the five hours fighting the fire at the Timmins Construction Company, it has lead to fire fighters being very fatigued.