(Le Mars) — An overnight fire leaves eleven people homeless after the blaze destroyed their home. The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department was called to 301 Central Avenue SW for a house fire that started at about 11:45 p.m. Fire fighters were on the scene and battled the blaze for nearly four hours. The two-story home serves as two apartments. A total of eleven people with three adults and eight children were at the home when it started on fire. The house is owned by Helena Rowland and occupied by the Herswin Helter family and the Lerinda Albert family. When firefighters arrived, flames were seen coming from the windows.
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Two people, a 40 year old male and an eleven year old male, suffered injuries and were transported to the Floyd Valley hospital. The young boy has been released, while the 40 year old male has been transfered to a Sioux City hospital. Both are thought to have suffered burns as well as smoke inhalation. Fire Chief Dave Schipper says the fire was so hot, that he was concerned about the possibility of neighboring houses catching on fire.
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The fire spread from the main portion of the home to the garage, where it then caught a car on fire. Schipper explains the tactics used to bring the fire under control.
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The Le Mars Fire Department received mutual aid assistance from the Orange City Fire Department. The American Red Cross also responded to the scene to offer assistance to the displaced families. A State Fire Marshal was on the scene this morning along with members of the Le Mars Fire Department looking for clues to identify the fire’s cause and origin. Fire Chief Schipper has determine the origin was accidental with the cause of the fire to be an unattended candle. Assisting at the scene last night was the Le Mars Police, Le Mars Ambulance, and MidAmerican Energy Company.
