×

Unwelcome surprise

FD homeowner returns to find house filled with smoke

-Messenger photo by Peter Kaspari Fort Dodge Firefighter Greg Nelson carries a fire hose into a burning home at 417 10th Ave. N. Monday afternoon.

The owner of a Fort Dodge home received a minor hand injury Monday when she came home to discover her house was on fire.

The fire at 417 10th Ave. N. was reported at 2:28 p.m. Monday.

According to Capt. Steve Hergenreter, of the Fort Dodge Fire Department, the home’s owner, Kim King, had been out and returned to the house Monday afternoon.

As soon as King opened the door, Hergenreter said she saw that her house was filled with smoke.

Hergenreter added King went into the house to try to find the source of the fire, but when she couldn’t find it, she broke a window with her hand to help the smoke dissipate.

-Messenger photo by Peter Kaspari Fort Dodge Fire Capt. Steve Hergenreter uses a pole to break a window at the burning home at 417 10th Ave. N. The home's owner suffered a minor hand injury when she tried to break a window herself.

King was treated on scene by paramedics from UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center, Hergenreter said.

He added that King was the only one living in the house.

Firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze, which, at times, filled the neighborhood with smoke.

Hergenreter said a short circuit in an extension cord on the floor in a first floor bedroom caused the fire.

He said that the basement and first floor both had extensive fire damage, while there was also extensive smoke and heat damage throughout the house. He said a hole was burned through the floor on the first floor.

-Messenger photo by Peter Kaspari Smoke covers the area around 417 10th Ave. N. Monday afternoon as a fire burned inside the home. Fort Dodge Fire Capt. Steve Hergenreter said the homeowner discovered the fire when she came home Monday.

Two fire engines were on scene as well as a Fort Dodge Fire Department command vehicle. In addition, the Fort Dodge Police Department responded to block traffic from entering the street.

Emergency personnel were on the scene until about 5 p.m.

-Messenger photo by Peter Kaspari Fort Dodge Fire Capt. Steve Hergenreter stands outside the burning home at 417 10th Ave. N.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today