FIRE IN LE MARS INDUSTRIAL PARK – UPDATE 11:30 AM
A fire was reported this morning in the Le Mars industrial park. Le Mars Fire Rescue Chief Dave Schipper says they were called to Tritz Pallet /Kamps Company on 18th Street SW at 4:22 a.m. The east building at the site was on fire. When firefighters arrived, heavy smoke was coming from the roof of the building. Heavy fire was inside the building among the pallets inside, and in an interior wall.
Orange City and Sioux Center Fire Departments were called to assist with aerial ladder trucks and additional manpower.
In a press release, Chief Schipper said teams of firefighters rotated through the building until fire was brought under control. Burnt pallets were removed from the building by firefighters and Kamps employees. Firefighters were on the scene for four hours to overhaul and building and remove the smoke. There was no fire sprinkler system in the building.
The origin of the first was in some pallets along a divider wall inside the building. The cause of the fire is accidental. The most probable cause was a heater in the ceiling of the building came apart and fell into pallets below. The heater eventually started and ignited the pallets. Damage is estimated at 100-thousand dollars. The building is still usable, but will require repairs and cleaning.
Le Mars Fire-Rescue was assisted by Le Mars Police, Plymouth County Sheriff, Mid-American Energy, Orange City and Sioux Center Fire Departments, and the Le Mars Water Department.
SCHIPPER -SMOKE DETECTORS
Daylight Saving Time starts Sunday. Le Mars Fire-Rescue Chief Dave Schipper says while you set your clocks this weekend, check your smoke detectors, too.
Schipper says there are some homes which do not have smoke detectors.
Alarms should be placed on every level of the home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas.
PARENTS CONSENT TO SOCIAL MEDIA
The House was nearly unanimous in its support of legislation that would give parents more authority over their children’s social media accounts. State Representative Tom Jeneary of Le Mars says the bill places more restrictions on social media access to teens.
Under this bill, social media companies must give a parent access to their minor child’s Instagram, SnapChat or other accounts and the ability to shut down those accounts.
SERVICE DISRUPTION AT ORANGE CITY AREA HEALTH
Orange City Area Health System is experiencing a service disruption due to a vendor cybersecurity incident reported on February 21, 2024 impacting Optum and Change Healthcare. Change Healthcare provides the health system with a large umbrella of services comprised of insurance verification, benefit eligibility and authorization, claims submission, and payment processing. Sanford Health, the health system’s business partner, took immediate steps and disconnected from Change Healthcare, upon being alerted of the incident. Patients will notice a delay in receiving authorization, processing of claims, receipt of explanation of benefits from their insurance company, and receipt of account statements from Orange City Area Health System. Processing of claims will resume as soon as a safe connection can be established.
PLYMOUTH COUNTY BUILDING PERMITS
There were a handful of building permits granted in Plymouth County in February. Just one farm permit was granted – for a waste pit in American township. There were three non-farm permits granted… a garage add-on in Johnson Township, a home addition in Fredonia Township, and a residence in Union Township. Total value of the projects was 300-thousand dollars.
SIOUX CITY MAN ARRESTED
A Sioux City man was arrested by the Sioux and Plymouth County Sheriffs Offices. Thursday, March 7, at 1:57 p.m., the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office arrested Justin Cloud, age 49, of Sioux City, IA.
The Sioux County arrest stemmed from a report of trespassing that occurred on Tuesday morning. A resident reported Cloud was inside a farm building at a farm property on 480th Street east of Maurice. Cloud left the area but was later stopped by deputies of the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office.
After an arrest for charges in Plymouth County, Cloud was transported to the Sioux County Jail where he was charged with first degree trespassing and theft.
