Article Photos

DAYTON - Fire seriously damaged apartments above Sandholm Insurance in downtown Dayton Friday night, leaving tenants with an 18-day-old baby wondering what would be left.

"That's my whole life in that apartment," said Brandon Anderson as he stood watching the scene. "All my clothes, all my things, all my baby's stuff. It looks like the ceiling is gone, but we're hoping we'll be able to get in there to see if any of our stuff is OK."

Anderson, his wife and baby live in the back apartment above the insurance business at 23 S. Main St.

He said the person who lives in the front apartment walked across the street to the Frontier Lounge a little before 8:30 p.m. and told Brenda VanGilder, a Frontier employee, that there was a fire. VanGilder reportedly then contacted the fire department.

The Dayton Fire Department called in the Fort Dodge, Moorland, Stratford, Lehigh and Harcourt fire departments for assistance. Dayton Rescue, Gowrie police and the Webster County Sheriff's Department were also on the scene.

Dayton Police Chief Chris Weiland said late Friday that the cause of the fire, which was still smoldering, was unknown.

The building that burned is bordered on one side by the Dayton Review newspaper, and Family Pharmacy on the other.

This is the second downtown Dayton fire since 2007. There was also a downtown fire in 2003.

Contact Emilie Nelson at (515) 573-2141 or enelson@messengernews.net