The fire was at K.C. Nielsen Ltd., a John Deere dealership located at 215 S. Eighth St. in Manson.

Calls to the Manson Fire Department seeking information were not returned by press time Sunday.

The fire is believed to have started sometime after 3 p.m. Trooper Justin Parman, of the Iowa State Patrol, said he went on duty at that time and was dispatched to help with traffic control about 15 minutes later.

He had no information as to what might have caused the fire.

-Messenger photo by Peter Kaspari
crews work to battle a blaze at K.C. Nielsen Ltd. in Manson Sunday.

According to K.C. Nielsen’s website, the Manson location is closed on Sundays.

Clouds of black smoke could be seen several miles away in Webster County, near the ag industrial park known as Iowa’s Crossroads of Global Innovation.

Witnesses on scene reported hearing explosions from inside the dealership. One firefighter on scene climbed an aerial truck and sprayed a hose onto the building from above in order to help put the blaze out.

Additionally, firefighters from at least nine departments in Calhoun and Pocahontas counties were on scene. They included Manson, Lohrville, Rockwell City, Lake City, Palmer, Pomeroy, Knoke, Jolley and Knierim.

Other witnesses reported that firefighters had to go to Twin Lakes in order to fill up the pumper trucks.

-Messenger photo by Peter Kaspari
Multiple fire departments responded to Manson Sunday afternoon to help extinguish a blaze at K.C. Nielsen Ltd.

It’s unclear if anybody was hurt in the fire, but a Calhoun County EMS ambulance was spotted heading into Fort Dodge from the direction of the fire with its lights and siren on.

Firefighters were still on scene as of 8 p.m.

The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department was also on scene to help with traffic control. At one point, deputies could be spotted putting up caution tape to prevent people from coming too close to the dealership.

Two roads leading into town — Tabor Avenue and Main Street — were also blocked off at Highway 7.

-Messenger photo by Peter Kaspari
Manson firefighters work to extinguish a large fire at K.C. Nielsen Ltd. in town. Firefighters from multiple departments were on scene to battle the blaze.